one week left

Pastor Gary asked us a question this morning in church. He asked, "What would you do if you knew you had only one week left to live?" Southern woman that I am, I immediately thought of the country song, "Live Like You Were Dying." It's on the same theme of how we'd do things, live life, tie up loose ends, etc. if we knew our time here on earth was severely limited. The pastor compared Jesus' last days before his crucifixion to how we should also live our lives even though we don't know the exact time of our death. It was a stirring sermon that gave me much to consider so I thought I'd play it out here for all of us in this post.

OK, I find out that I've got one week left to live. What's the first thing I do? I'm pretty sure I'd have to sit down because my knees would absolutely buckle on me. I know this is true because it's happened to me before when I got upsetting news. Yep, I'd sit down for sure. Next, I think I'd just sit there, stunned, and consider what I'd just found out and how it would affect me and then how it would affect those closest to me. This is when I would begin to be emotional about the Big News.

I'm not afraid of death. Really, I'm not. I absolutely trust the Lord that when my life here is done, I am going to be with Jesus in heaven. I stake my life--my eternity--in Jesus. What might frighten me some is how I am going to die. If I knew it was going to be painful or traumatic, I'd get nervous about it, but a peaceful death, not so much. Setting aside any fear about the manner in which I might leave this life, my biggest concern would be those I leave behind.

I love my family utterly. My husband, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, siblings, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and so on, and so on--and I would never leave out my dearest friends. I love them all. And I know they all love me. While I'd be joyful in heaven praising Jesus and doing what all the saints do there, my family and friends would be heartbroken and they'd miss me. The sting of death is painful and sad and heartrending to those left living here. I know. I have many family members and friends who have gone on ahead to heaven already and that's how I felt. This is probably when I'd cry good and hard for a while. Then, when the emotional storm ended, I'd begin to do what I could to prepare them.

So, remembering that I'd only have a week, what would I do help them with my leaving? I think the first thing I would do is to spend a day alone writing each one of my immediate family members and closest friends a personal letter telling him (or her) how special he (or she) is to me and I'd write about a particular memory I have with that person. Each letter would be completely unique to the person receiving it. I'd also share my hope in Jesus with each one and encourage her (or him) in the Lord. Although these letters would be emotionally exhausting to write because each one would be totally open and transparent with its recipient, it would be something tangible for my loved ones to hold in their hands after I'd died. Something we'd shared together. I'd truly lay my heart open in every letter.

The next thing I would do is invite my family and dearest friends to spend the rest of my time at my house. Now this is going to be chaos because my house isn't that big but I wouldn't mind. I'd want them all with me for the next six days. (I'm assuming, of course, I'm feeling fine and am able to do anything I want until I die.) I'd have alone time with each one that I'd written a letter to and read it to them privately sharing a personal good bye. There'd be rollaway beds and sleeping bags everywhere. Maybe we'd have to pitch a tent in the back yard. I really wouldn't care what we have to do to have everyone here. We'd cook. We'd order out. We'd talk. We'd pray. We'd take pictures and video. We'd tell stories. We'd reminisce. We'd laugh. We'd cry and we'd sequester ourselves away from the world and enjoy one another.

And then, when all had been said and done, and when my time was gone, we would have made memories to last a lifetime and I could only hope that what we'd done would help my loved ones deal with my sudden passing.

And that's about it. My Big Plan. I'm glad I got to think about "the last remaining week" today. It helped me focus on the truly critical things in my life. I determined that I don't want to travel somewhere exotic to see something I've never seen before. I don't want to party till the cows come home and there's no delicacy that I absolutely must try.

It's absolutely possible that I'm full of hot air on my Big Plan of what I think I'd do if I had a week left to live. Am I sure? Of course not. No one can know for sure, but, if it were my last week, my plans do cover all the most important things for me--to show my love for my family and friends and help them cope with my death by making good memories. I'd also want to share with them once again my love of Jesus and that we can trust His promise to prepare a place for us after this life is over.

I find such peace in the Bible about Jesus' preparation for us. He says, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?" John 14 :1-2

Whose words, whose promises can we trust if we do not trust the words of very God? I choose to trust him and I look forward to my time here with family and friends, but I am also looking forward to my time to come with Jesus in eternity--whenever it might be--a week--a year--a decade--or longer. That's the beauty of trusting the Lord. It's all right, all the time. It's all right here--or there. It's simply all right with Jesus. Period.

Father, only you know when that time for each one of us will come. That special time when you call us home to be with you throughout eternity in the place prepared just for us. Lord, it is exciting to think of it and how wonderful it will be some day. It is also exciting to think of life here on earth now with your ever present hand guiding us and helping us every day. Truth is, Lord, it's simply exciting to serve you wherever we are--on earth or in heaven. You are truly wonderful to us and we are grateful. I love you, dear Jesus. I love you. I love you.

Suz