Fleeting

Life is fleeting.

Life is never a given.

Things can change in an instant.

Today, after coming home from working and a normal run of the mill day, I was struck with the sudden news that one of my best friend's sister had passed away. She was 28. She died after a lengthy battle with cancer.

It was one of those fears that lurked in my mind, but she had been doing fine lately, she was going through treatment, she was fighting.

And then the next moment she is gone.

It is a moment in time that can change the rest of life.

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life."- Psalm 39:4 NIV

I am working as a caretaker for a 98 year old woman. Talk about the fragility of life. She is a spunky, healthy woman for her age. She is amazing honestly.

She lives on her own, she can still get around pretty good, she even gardens and works out in the yard! Smart, and sharp as a tack.

But not too long ago, things changed for her. She had a fall. Her body had recovered, but her mind and memory were altered from the medications.

As she takes me through her house, for a second time, she points to the many faces in frames hanging on her walls....and she can't tell me all of their names.

She has told me several great childhood memories...several times. She can't remember my name, she can't remember what all happened yesterday, and she asks more than once what day it is.

Things can change in a moment.

Life is precious....fragile...and fleeting. People respond to this differently. Some go through life holed up in a stagnant box afraid of everything around them, the what if's and unknowns.

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"- Matthew 6:27 NIV

Others blaze ahead recklessly in an effort to suck every last ounce of 'life' from their days... each one of these approaches is wrong, and actually drains the life from you rather than preserving it.

My approach?

Know Who holds your life. I don't have to walk around in fear that I'll fall one day and drop that fragile crystal hourglass and it will all be over. No, He holds my times and numbers my days. He is in control.

"Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed."- Job 14:4 NIV

Isn't it much more comforting to know Someone is in charge of something so valuable? Not you yourself, random chance or others around you, but a loving, personal God who has a plan for you?

Yes, life is fleeting and fragile...let Someone else take care of it for you, huh?

"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."- Mark 8:35 NIV

Treasure what you have in THIS day, recognize the gift it is, and trust the rest to Him.


* Do you have any more verses to add to this?  Share them in the comments.

PS- Please be in prayer for my dear friend and her family. Their loss breaks my heart, even though we know this young lady is no longer suffering and with Jesus, the loss is real and hard.