Today, I turn 40!
It’s an incredible feeling as I think of my life and all that has transpired in the last few years, but most visible to me, the last year, to get me to where I am. As a result, I’m both grateful and humbled.
But just within this week, I have been given reason to pause and reflect on the fragility of life.
This past Tuesday, a high school friend reached out asking if I had heard of the passing of our mutual friend. I was both shocked and surprised. I had not been in touch in recent years, but I was no less shocked at the incredibly sad news as he shared the information he had. We did some more digging and confirmed it was true. Another friend was able to find out the cause of death: a heart attack at the young age of 40, with all of his life ahead of him.
On Friday, my mom calls me from work and upon just hearing her voice, I knew something was wrong. When I asked if she was ok, she shared that this couple she had made plans to visit over the weekend, the husband had passed away the night before. Only to tell me the next day to pray for the wife as she too had suffered a heart attack and was in the hospital. They were in the midst of planning the husband’s funeral, and now I was wondering if she would even be well enough to attend. The fragility of life.
So, as I sit here reflecting on the fact that I am able to celebrate my 40th birthday, it also gives me pause for those who are dealing with losses of their loved ones and aren’t celebrating. It makes me realize the importance of living a kind and abundant life. I don’t need to go on and live a wild life because I know that I am not promised tomorrow, but I can live a life that is meaningful so that when I see my Heavenly Father, I will hear the words ‘well done my good and faithful servant’.
How about you?
Heavenly Father, today I’m thankful to be able to celebrate my life and what you are doing in it. Help me to live a life that is honoring to you. Help me to live with purpose and wisdom, and to help to make someone’s day just a little brighter by their interaction with me.