Life

It passes by too quickly.  The 1,440 minutes that make up my day seem to whirl by virtually unnoticed. 

Death

It too comes quickly.  No matter the number of minutes or years between the first breath and the last, it always seems too soon.


This day would have been my mother's 88th birthday but instead of celebrating in life we are celebrating in our hearts.  A good reminder that each minute is as precious as the one before and we are not promised the one to come. 

Death does this...gives you pause.  It creates a selah in the midst of life.  It would do me well not to pass on by without a notice. 

It seems fitting that I enter in this Lenten season with fresh awareness of life and of death.  I pray that I have the eyes to see; the ears to hear;  the mouth to speak and the heart to love the grace and glory of my Saviour. 


I came across this prayer last year and it seems too good not to share it with you.

A Lenten prayer for families (author unknown)

Fast from juding others; feast on Christ in them.

Fast from wanting more; feast on being thankful.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.

Fast from worry; feast on trust.

Fast from complaining; feast on enjoyment.

Fast from negatives; feast on positives.

Fast from stress; feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.

Fast from fear; feast on truth.

Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.

Fast from gossip; feast on silence.

Fast from fighting; feast on peace.  Amen.

© A Sacred Longing 2009-2012

An Eternal Release

Outside the window, the snow falls gently and the wind is howling cold.  Inside this room, we sit in vigil watching for the final breath.  Not wanting it to come yet at the same time begging it to hurry.

I am learning that life gives us many choices but death gives us very few.  We can't pick the day, the hour, or the way.  It comes when it is time - not a moment before or a minute after. 

Rarely do we seek its presence.  Still and yet, when its eerie silence echoes near we seem to grasp the patience we otherwise would seldom hold. 

So today we wait in expectation - seeking to be witness to the most precious of moments - a "thin place" where the heaven and earth join together.  Where a life ends here and a spirit finds eternal release. 

Dearest of friends, I wrote this 9 days ago - an eternity of emotions - and yet only 9 days.  On February 13, 2012 my mother passed from this world into the wholeness and grace that is found in the arms of our Savior.  No matter how old I am ... I will always be her baby. 

I love you now and forever, Mom. 

© A Sacred Longing 2009-2012