Cherish the Moments

As this year ends I'm reminded of how precious time is. The older I get (and I'm not old!) I wonder if it is me that slows down, or time that speeds up. Or maybe both?

We all have bad days. We all have moments of pain and weakness. We sometimes suffer seasons of heartache and loss. There are times when it is easy to wish time away. I say this knowing personal loss, and watching dear people I love suffer as well.

I think it was Jack Hyles that once said, "Be kind to everyone, because everyone is having a hard time." Isn't that the truth?

In the midst of trials, physical pain, or sorrow, there have been times I thought to myself, "I can't wait for this to end. I just want it to be over."

But I'd like to share about a special lady I met that has helped me see that every moment, every day is precious, and gift from our Father. Even if it isn't what we hoped or dreamed it would be.

A few weeks ago I had to be at the radiology department of the hospital early in the morning. I was having yet another scan done. I signed in and spoke with the receptionist, who now knows me on sight, by name. She asked how things were going, and I told her, and thanked her for her kindness. I went and found a seat and started to pick up a magazine, when a little black woman with an adorable knitted hat approached and asked if she could sit by me.

I told her she could, and as she sat down she said, "I am so excited today!"
"Oh really? Why's that?" I asked, thinking it took a special person to be excited about anything THAT early in the morning!
"Today is my last chemo treatment!" she responded.
"Oh, congratulations! So, if you don't mind me asking, does this mean your cancer is in remission?" I asked.
"Oh no. I don't know for certain until I go back to my doctor, but I know this is the last treatment." She said.
"Oh wow. Well I think it's great you can be so positive, even when you don't know the outcome yet." I replied.
"Well I don't, but my Father does." she said.
"So you're a Christian?" I asked excitedly.
"Oh yes ma'am! And He has been so good to me! I've been keeping a journal since I got cancer, writing down all the ways that God has blessed me. He has been so good."
At this point I almost started crying.

We talked some more, and I learned not only was she a Christian, but she attended a local Independent Baptist church that I had heard of. She talked about her children who had graduated from a local Bible college. We got to talking about how the Lord was soon coming, and we started crying and rejoicing in our Heavenly Father.

Soon a nurse came to take me back to begin, and I turned to the woman and thanked her for her encouragement. She replied, "Oh don't thank me. I think our Father wanted two of His daughters to meet this morning."

It's been several weeks since I saw her, and I may never again see her until I get to Heaven, but I still think about her. I hope and pray her cancer is in remission. But from what she shared, I believe she's rejoicing in the Lord, no matter what the outcome.

I know this year has been hard on many people. I know people have lost jobs, or have taken reduced wages. Many of us felt fear and despair with the election time and economic instability. I know many dear precious saints have gone to Heaven this year and the families left behind are hurting; especially at this time of year. I know there are some who have experienced discouragement, pain, or sorrow that they never saw coming this time last year. I know I have.

If you had told me this time last year that I would have a tumor on my liver, or be on more medications that I ever have been, or that I would spend more time visiting the hospital than I ever have (and that's saying something!) I would have not believed you. If you had told me my grandmother would need brain surgery or that my uncle would spend nearly a month in the hospital and almost die, I would not have believed you. If you had told me that some of the people that I knew were going to die I would not have believed you. But all of that came to pass this year, and you know what? The Bible still tells me to rejoice in the Lord always.

We don't get exempted from that command just because we are hurting or have suffered loss. Please don't think I'm being unsympathetic, because I'm not. I've cried in brokeness in the past year, not understanding what His purpose or plan were. And I still don't understand what He's doing in my own life, or the lives of those I love so much.

But I know that if He can hold the universe in place, then He can hold my life together. If He can speak the world into existence, He can speak peace to my soul. Glory to God, if He's the Master of the seas, then He can calm my storm! And He can calm yours. The Bible says He is the God of all grace and the God of all comfort.

We will face trials and heartaches and burdens down here. He never promised the Christian life would be painless, but He did promise to never leave or forsake us. That makes life worth living.

HE is what makes life precious and worth cherishing. He is the reason we can rejoice when everything crumbles around us. He is the Captain of our Salvation, the Author of our lives, we are His workmanship; His trophies of grace. He didn't say we would always understand, but He did tell us to rejoice.

I want to be like that dear sister, who thanked God during her battle with cancer. Who rejoiced even when she wasn't sure if she was in remission. Like the verse I read this morning, I want to rejoice in the land of the living.

I know this is long, but please pardon me while I take a moment to list a few of my blessings this year...

My salvation that can never be lost.
My beloved King James Bible that ministers to my heart.
My precious church family and a pastor who preaches God's Word.
My dear family, who loves me.
The health that I do still have.
The ability to voice my thoughts, to sing praises to God, to write for His glory...
Fresh air, a good home, plenty to eat, wonderful Christian friends...
an eternal home in Heaven...a relationship with my Heavenly Father. The knowledge that I'll never go to hell. Living in America. Living in the South. Freedom to praise my God.

My blessing are so numerous, how can I count them? God has been so good, no matter what!