Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Mid-Week Message - Our Mortal Journey

"You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before I single day had passed."  Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

My daughter was around four years old when our neighbor passed away suddenly.  She didn't know him well but she heard her father and I talking about it.  She has always been the type of person that ponders on things.  She takes them deep into her mind and examines them from every side.  Only then will she mention anything to someone else.  Knowing this, I wasn't surprised when some time later, as I was putting her to bed one night, she began asking questions.  She first asked if animals die. Next she wanted to know if mommies and daddies die.  Then she said, "Mommy, do kids die?"  

How I wish that we could shield our children from the hard parts of life.  It broke my heart that she was so young and wondering these things.  I felt guilty for allowing her to hear our discussion.  But, it also opened the pathway for me to begin teaching her about how we were created, by Whom, and how very much He loves us.  I was able to share with her about Heaven and what a beautiful and wonderful place it will be and I watched her as she tucked those thoughts into her heart.  

When I was in college, I would occasionally travel to Oklahoma City to see my grandfather.  I thought it odd that he and other older family members talked about who had recently died.  I wondered why they would concentrate so much on that topic.  Now that I am growing older, I understand that it is a reminder that our lives are finite and that with each birthday we celebrate we grow ever closer to the time when we will close our eyes for the last time on earth and open them in the presence of our Savior.  Acknowledging the death of others is a way to prepare ourselves for our own mortality.  

It is strange to think that I have now probably lived out the majority of my life.  I haven't found any expiration dates stamped anywhere on my body so I don't know for sure.  As far as I am concerned, each and every day is a gift from my Father in Heaven and He can give me as many gifts as He desires to and I will be thankful for each one.  The verse I used today is the one He gave me when I broke my leg in 2012.  As I clung to it then, I cling to it today.  

I find it extremely comforting that all of my days were written in His book before any of them came to be.  I have often said that before He hung a single star in the sky He knew each of us intimately, loved us, and had already walked the paths that we will walk.  He has seen all of our joys and hardships and knows exactly what we will need with every step we take.  Not only that, but He is there beside us, watching over us and urging us on.  He will bring encouragers along the way to cheer for us and help us carry heavy burdens.  As promised, He will never leave us or forsake us.  And when our mortal journey comes to an end, He will be there waiting for us.  Death brings sadness here on earth for those left behind, but there is rejoicing in Heaven when we arrive in the place we were created for.  Life beside Jesus Himself.  Home for all eternity.  God bless.



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