The following is the post I put up on facebook today:
I've been thinking a lot about life and death. My Nana just turned 90, yet I know so many who've died young. Life is such a gift, and sometimes during the daily grind, it's easy to forget the gift that it is. May I live each day as if it's my first day, my last day, my only day. Because you know what? I don't want to go unexpectedly while in an angry, crappy, "the world owes me a favor" bad mood.
This evening I received an email from my friend Audrey with the story below. I don't think it's "just a coincidence" that I wrote what I wrote, and then received this story (and just as an aside, Audrey is not on facebook). As I stated above, I've been thinking about life, death, the meaning of life, why some suffer, why others don't, why some seem to be so blessed all throughout life, while others seem to be in a living in some type of hell on earth, why some people die before they haven't even begun to live, and why others just keep living until a very old age. I am reminded in the midst of all of these questions to go back to my faith, my faith that this earth we live in isn't heaven, nor is it supposed to be. I'm glad that I believe not only that there is life after death, but that the life I'll have and the place I'll go, that we will all go to (God willing), is exactly what we've all hoped and yearned for - a perfect place - heaven. So, although it's very hard some days, I'm trying to keep my eye on the prize. I'm trying to pick up my cross daily and carry it, asking God for more help on the days when the cross seems to be more than I can bear. My challenge isn't where I live, what I have, the people around me (okay, well sometimes it's the people around me...had to put in a bit of humor)...but it's usually with my mental and emotional state. I can very easily get down and I have to work daily (sometimes hourly) to keep positive. My cross, my "demon" (because we all have them) is my own mind, and I am trying my darndest to conquer it.
May we all keep positive, carry our crosses and remember the gift of life we've each been given.
Here is the story I received via email: (there should be pictures that go along with this story but when I just checked my blog it seems as though they're missing. The pictures kind of need to be here because the story is all captions about the pictures...hmmmm).
I've been thinking a lot about life and death. My Nana just turned 90, yet I know so many who've died young. Life is such a gift, and sometimes during the daily grind, it's easy to forget the gift that it is. May I live each day as if it's my first day, my last day, my only day. Because you know what? I don't want to go unexpectedly while in an angry, crappy, "the world owes me a favor" bad mood.
This evening I received an email from my friend Audrey with the story below. I don't think it's "just a coincidence" that I wrote what I wrote, and then received this story (and just as an aside, Audrey is not on facebook). As I stated above, I've been thinking about life, death, the meaning of life, why some suffer, why others don't, why some seem to be so blessed all throughout life, while others seem to be in a living in some type of hell on earth, why some people die before they haven't even begun to live, and why others just keep living until a very old age. I am reminded in the midst of all of these questions to go back to my faith, my faith that this earth we live in isn't heaven, nor is it supposed to be. I'm glad that I believe not only that there is life after death, but that the life I'll have and the place I'll go, that we will all go to (God willing), is exactly what we've all hoped and yearned for - a perfect place - heaven. So, although it's very hard some days, I'm trying to keep my eye on the prize. I'm trying to pick up my cross daily and carry it, asking God for more help on the days when the cross seems to be more than I can bear. My challenge isn't where I live, what I have, the people around me (okay, well sometimes it's the people around me...had to put in a bit of humor)...but it's usually with my mental and emotional state. I can very easily get down and I have to work daily (sometimes hourly) to keep positive. My cross, my "demon" (because we all have them) is my own mind, and I am trying my darndest to conquer it.
May we all keep positive, carry our crosses and remember the gift of life we've each been given.
Here is the story I received via email: (there should be pictures that go along with this story but when I just checked my blog it seems as though they're missing. The pictures kind of need to be here because the story is all captions about the pictures...hmmmm).
The wedding.
Her name is Katie Kirkpatrick, 21 yrs old. Next to her is her fiancé, Nick, 23. This picture was taken prior to their wedding January 11th, 2005. Katie has terminal cancer and spends hours in chemotherapy. Here Nick awaits while she finishes one of the sessions...
Even in pain and dealing with her organs shutting down, with the help of morphine, Katie took care of every single part of the wedding planning. Her dress had to be adjusted several times due to Katie 's constant weight loss.
An expected guest was her oxygen tank. Katie had to use it during the ceremony and reception. The other couple in this picture is Nick's parents, very emotional with the wedding and to see their son marrying the girl he fell in love when he was an adolescent.
Katie , in a wheel chair listening to her husband and friends singing to her.
In the middle of the party, Katie had to rest for a bit and catch her breath. The pain does not allow her to stand for long period of time.
Katie died 5 days after her wedding.
To see a fragile woman dress as bride with a beautiful smile
makes you think... happiness is always there within reach, no matter how long it lasts... let's enjoy life and don't live a complicated life. Life is too short.
Work as if it was your first day.
Forgive as soon as possible.
Love without boundaries.
Laugh without control and never stop smiling.
Please pray for those suffering from cancer.
We all have someone close to our heart.
1 comment:
Wonderful post, thank you for sharing!
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