Inhale. Exhale.

I've been thinking a lot lately about life and death. At some point, your heart just stops beating. Breathing stops. Done. Your life is over. 

We don't get to know. We don't know if there's some cell in us that's going to become cancer, or if cancer is already at work but yet undetected. We don't know about the car accident or the heart attack that's around the corner today, next week, next year. Other than suicide or life support systems, we don't know.

It can happen - in a heartbeat.(Sorry. This is depressing. Our son has told me often, "Thanks Mom. You know how to kill a good mood with your stories." Hang in here with me...)

What do we do? We live. We try to pretend. We try not to think about it. We busy ourselves.

That doesn't make any sense either. The odds of death are currently 100%.

We distract ourselves with life problems. They are sometimes big problems: loss of a job, a divorce, a DUI offense, or an out-of-control kid. They are sometimes little problems that are made to be big: problems at work, a spouse who is inconsiderate at times, a speeding ticket, or a kid who is acting like a kid.

If you got a call that someone you love had died in an instant, the perspective on problems would change in an instant. Life problems are all important AND not important at all.

We get this tiny little life with this limited time. What will we do with it? Other than the love we have and the love we have to give, everything else is insignificant.  

Inhale how much you are loved. Exhale it regularly to those around you.  

Comments

[joanne Brewer]

Hello Kathy, I can relate to this article that you have written. Our family went thru just what you are talking about 3 years ago. You are very right on when you said that when something happens life problems are important and then not important at all. All we can think of is the one that is leaving us a hole is left and yes we go on but not like before. Life has changed and priorities change. I can't say for a life time but I think it will. Thank you for this article, you matter always. Joanne Brewer ( in honor of Robert Jeffrey Brewer my son).

[Dan Clark]

When asked (and sometimes when not asked), I encourage others to cherish the time you have with your loved ones. As you said, you never know how long you have or they will have... It is hard to change your focus, but worh the effort. I also believe it is important that you tell those around you that you love them and let them see your love for them in action. Think about how many times in scripture God tells us He loves us. If God deems it important, we should too! When summarizing, Jesus said we should love God and love others. Since God made us, He certainly knows what is best for us.