The End Of All Things

How often do I think about it, I wonder, that my days on earth are numbered? I was reminded of this, first of all, when my brother-in-law ended up in the hospital with a minor stroke. He is at home now, recovering, and we are so grateful.

Last night, we went to the viewing of a nineteen year old boy. The frigid cold and the long lineup was a recipe for sickness waiting to happen and it did. The three year old was coughing this morning and I had a mild sore throat. Minor annoyances- given the fact that we are all at home safe and sound…..together.

When we got home last night, the neighborhood had some excitement with a chimney fire just down the road from us. My husband, who is always ready for bed before I am, could not settle that easily! Finally, after checking things out for the second time, he fell asleep. We were happy the firemen had everything under control and the neighbours could relax.

Sometimes, things do not end so well. A chimney fire can turn into a burnt house. A family lost their home on a windy day when the chimney fire got out of control. The stove wasn’t burning hot and they were quilting, unaware of what was happening upstairs.

My mom, who lost her home when my two oldest siblings were wee tots, claims that it felt like a death. And yet, the neighbours down the road from us suffered far worse when their house burned and they lost the two little girls as well….if only it had just been the house!

My friend’s sister died when she had a brain aneurysm. They waited, hopefully, for days as she rallied on. My brother- in- law got to go back home…

I know of a local man who survived a snowmobile accident. He had many broken things, but he was alive. A nineteen year old boy dies…

Nineteen…the age brings back so many memories. One of my best friends died at nineteen. She was so young and carefree and full of life. Then she was gone. Now another family is reeling with the loss of their nineteen year old.

May we be there for the ones who mourn and suffer losses…to hold the hand of a friend who is going through a hard time. The needs around us are endless and may we have the eyes to “see.” We are failing human beings but thank God for His plan of salvation to pull us out of our helpless state! Death does not have the final say if we are right with God and we can have the “peace that surpasses all understanding.”

The ‘end of all things’ is only the beginning for some.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12