Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Life Is Fragile!

Tonight a dear 32 year old friend is living his last hours surrounded by family as his body is being eaten by pancreatic cancer. His whispers barely heard relay his love for his wife and children.

Tonight a 29 year of wife and mom is looking deeply into the eyes of her husband grasping to hold the picture of a face she will soon see no longer. She is desperate to breath in the smell of his skin, the touch of his hands the sound of his voice so as to never forget. She wonders what life will hold without him, how will she comfort her children?

Tonight two young children watch as their father sleeps. With little understanding of the changes about to take place they wrestle with why daddy can’t play today.

Life Is Fragile

Tonight a dear friend sits home alone mourning the loss of her only child. It was a cold and wet January morning when the police officers showed up at her door with the news that there had been a single car roll-over and her 19 year old daughter didn’t make it. She rests in the arms of Jesus while her parents trust Jesus to get through another day without her.

Life Is Fragile

Tonight another friend recalls the day a similar call came. For her it was her 11 year old son who, when stung by a swarm of bees, ran out in front of a car and was killed. Her heart torn apart by pain and grief yet she must go on for the children who continue to look up to her for strength and love.

Life Is Fragile

Tonight I spoke to my oldest son who has recently lost a friend and coworker. A father walked into his home to find his child with a gun shot to the head. Tonight a father sits trying to understand what went wrong and why his son was so disillusioned with life that he couldn’t bear to go on.

Life Is Fragile

This week a friend of my youngest son was hospitalized with a seizure which lasted 1 ½ hours, he nearly died and has some brain trauma. He was released from the hospital on Monday and came straight to our home where I found him asleep on my son’s bed. His brother nearly drowned a few years ago and unfortunately now lives with brain injury. Tonight both boys are on their own to make their way in this world. A family has been torn apart by tragedy and two young men clinging to life with seemingly no hope of a brighter tomorrow.

Life Is Fragile

Tonight a mom is attempting to move on with life after the loss of her son due to an allergic reaction to a prescription medication. He was my youngest son’s best friend and left us this year.
Life If Fragile

My mom called two days ago, she had received a call from a former neighbor and friend who wanted to tell my mom something before she heard it on the news. This woman sits tonight broken hearted, her world shattered as her son now sits in prison after being found in the house of a murdered man. Tonight a mom’s heart is torn apart and a young man will spend the rest of his life in prison. An innocent man has lost his life and tonight a family grieves that loss with questions and no answers as to why this had to happen.

Life Is Fragile

Genny at MyCup2Yours has posted a challenge based on the book “One Month to Live”. Tonight I wonder if I would live my life differently if I knew I only had one month to live. It is possible. Yet, because I live in a world filled with tragedy I realize that everyday is precious and every life is fragile.

February 8, 2007 I made the most difficult decision of my life. I was the full-time administrator for a church, I was also the full-time Women’s Pastor at the same church. I spent nearly 90 % of my waking hours at the church, working FOR the church. I loved it! But my Lord called me to revisit my priorities. My family was suffering due to my schedule. After spending 21 days seeking the Lord through prayer and fasting I quit my job, walked away from the ministry, left our church and lost my friends. My life was turned upside down. It was the darkest of days but the most peaceful.

God changed my heart, my priorities and my focus. He became first, my family became second and all else fell under those two. Money was no longer a worthy prize, nor was a title, a ministry, a name or fame. Ambition for the world’s success pales in comparison to the desire to be obedient to my Lord.

Spending time loving on my family and true friends is all the blessing I need. Allowing God to mold and transform my heart has brought joy in areas I never thought possible. Today we are settled into our new church and I am again ministering to women but my focus is different. Instead of working for the church I am living for God. Listening for His voice and responding to His words.

I have not yet read the book One Month to Live but I believe if I really only had one month, my focus would be the same.

Looking into the eyes of family and friends and being thankful for the moment, spending time loving on them and telling stories of life and God’s power, leaving memories for my children and grandchildren that will last their lifetime. Praying with my loved ones and spending time in scripture, helping them to really know Jesus instead of knowing about Him. You see life is about relationship, both vertical and horizontal, and there is nothing on this earth more important than that.
Considering It All Joy,
Cindy

16 comments:

  1. Life is indeed fragile. In December, we lost my 51-year-old sister-in-law, in February my 48-year-old brother, in March my brother's teenage son lost his infant baby boy he had only met a week or two before (menigitis), in June we lost my Uncle Joe, and in July, my nephew...same one who lost his dad and baby within two weeks of each other, lost his 38 year old uncle from his mom's side. That's a lot of loss...life is fragile...it is precious...every day matters.

    Again, it was great spending time with you today. You are a lovely person. Love, Lee

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  2. Cindy,
    Wow. This was so beautiful and heartfelt. What a powerful reminder of just how fragile life is. I love your perspective and how you've made relationships your priority. Thank you so much for joining me in this, and thank you for the inspiration!
    Genny

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  3. Good post! Lots to be thankful for! Thanks for reminding me just where our allegience should be. God first, and the rest will fall into place.

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  4. Cindy,
    This is SO impacting. Thank you for sharing this heart-wrenching post. Loss is truly all around us. So grateful for your renewed perspective, and its resulting impact on your family. What you've shared is a blessing, a challenge and an encouragement to all of us to reprioritize our lives and cherish our families and those we love while we have them.

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  5. Great Post.
    Life seems to fly by so fast I think we take alot for granted. My father has recently been given bad news concerning his health and his off and on 10 year battle with cancer. I imagine he is doing a lot of thinking about the subject. My prayer is that I am able to live my life with no regrets...

    I popped over from Nicole's blog-hope you don't mind!

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  6. It is so hard to keep priorities straight with "ministry" and family! I love this post.

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  7. My precious friend - I am bawling. Thanks for the reminder that - Yes, Life is Fragile. On my way home from carpool today I was reflecting on blessings of the moment when all of the sudden a small whisper came "Yes, but this can all change in a heartbeat." Beautiful girl! I'm proud of you for reprioritizing!

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  8. Wow Cindy,
    That was a heart felt post. Life is so fragile. It only takes a second for so many lives to be changed forever.

    Thanks so much for reminding me of that.
    Lynn

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  9. Really appreciated your thoughts here Cindy. Your decision in 2007 will never be regretted. Following God sometimes brings the misunderstanding of others, but our obedience is precious to Him. Praying the Lord will continue to be your all in all and that He will restore many precious friendships and ministry moments of His choice.

    Blessings,
    Joy

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  10. Hi Cindy, I came over from Lynnsc after reading your comment on her 'Yes To God Tuesdays' post.

    Your comment about how you didn't understand why you had become one of those who couldn't open up to others struck a chord with me, because it wasn't really what I felt inside either. I wanted to open up and I admired those who did, but just couldn't. I too wonder why and sometimes I think maybe it's my childhood. I just thank God for bringing me out of that place.

    I am really moved by your post today. Life truly is a vapor and we must cherish it. I just lost my 39 year old friend this weekend. She had diabetes and lupus but I am still shocked to know that she is gone.

    I admire your decision...though a tough one....to give up your ministry and rearrange your life. As you are seeing now, it's more rewarding and that's what's important.

    Blessings,
    Vickie

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  11. Great post....life is truly fragile.

    I hear you resting in the moments of your life...

    It's amazing isn't it?

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  12. Yes, this is a beautiful post dear Cindy and all too true.

    Blessings to you today ~ and I must say I think your comment this morning was the most encouraging I've ever received!

    Hugs!

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  13. Cindy you have such an amazing testimony and a life radically changed and directed by God. I love to visit your blog!

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  14. Oh Cindy..this was beautifully written and so touched my heart...

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  15. Wise and poignant words.

    I appreciate your testimony of laying your ambition and agenda before the Lord and finding Him not only sufficient but overflowing!!

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  16. Yes, when we open our eyes life is fragile and it's going on all around us. Thanks for opening my eyes a bit more to others. You will be okay with your work decison. It's hard at the time and you wonder how will we survive without the $$ or what you will do. Just give it time. You are in my prayers. Connie

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Hi Friend, I read and cherish every single comment you leave! You bring Joy to my heart! Blessings, Cindy