This week, my family received the heart breaking news that we are going to have to put our dog down. We went through this with a pet back in 2011. It is tough…especially on the kids! Zeke, our 9-year-old, 70 pound lap dog––Rhodesian Ridgeback, is living the spoiled life right now…beyond measure. We are soaking up every last moment we can as a family with our beloved family pet.
This past Christmas season, a young man that was a youth leader in our Youth Ministry “days” passed away at the age of 33. We attended his funeral via live-stream online. Tears ran down our faces as we heard young men tell stories, remember, laugh, and cry at the change and impact that Chris Hill left on countless hundreds of people.
I have a high school classmate in Colorado whose wife is in the closing moments of her journey, as she has battled cancer these last several years. She will leave behind 4 kids, a loving husband, and countless lives that have been impacted through her book, “The Hardest Peace” (http://www.mundanefaithfulness.com/the-hardest-peace-book/)
As I have soaked up a lot of emotion over the last 2 weeks, the thought that comes to my mind through our family time with Zeke, the memories of students near and far watching Chris’ online service, and through the blog entries and chapters of Kara’s book…
I have to quit watching the clock and get busy “Being what really matters!” A passionate Christ Follower, a faithful husband, a loving Dad, and a prayer-filled leader of God’s people! Not consumed with doing, but BEING!
I am not sure when my closing breath will fill the room, but I know it will happen. Scripture tells us, “It is appointed for all men to die…” That is a fact…a hard fact that we all struggle with. We try to guess the time we have left, having no idea when the clock will read 00:00. Yet, I am challenged today.
As for me, I want to quit looking at the clock. I want to be who God wants me to be! I want to be that passionate Christ Follower, that faithful husband, that loving Dad, and that prayer-filled leader of God’s people!
Paul said this in Acts 20:24, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
Zeke – You will always be with my kids! Thank you for protecting them and teaching them!
Chris – Never have I met a man that showed how to “Love God and Love People” so passionately!
Jason, Kara, and kids – I am praying for you! Thank you for sharing your “Hardest Peace” with the world!