I heard a powerful message this morning. A very thought provoking question because it made me pause and consider the answer. I was sitting at a prayer meeting and the speaker had just finished offering his own very strong testimony of faith and God’s hand on his life. A lady got up and took the microphone to close the meeting. She shared a few words about being a good example of God working in our lives, encouraged us, and then suddenly stopped and said, “Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve got to take this call.”
Several people laughed, thinking she was joking as she picked up her cell phone from the podium. She turned away slightly, still holding the microphone and spoke a few words in the phone. She hung up quickly and said, “That was God calling. He told me that today is my last day and asked me if I would be ready if He called me tonight.”
The room fell silent as everyone pondered that. She went on to say, “We don’t always know when each day may be our last, much like those victims in France. So, if you knew today was your last day – what would you do different? Would there be people in your life that you need to talk to? Would you be ready if God calls you home tonight? Would you live differently if today was your last day?”
Art Buchwald said, “Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got.”
I know I’m always looking ahead to the future and making plans. I look forward to events like Thanksgiving next week, when I’ll get to see my brother and his wife, my “mother Joanne”, my grandparents, brother and sister-in-law, aunts, and uncles. It will be a blissful two days, not because of eating way too much and exercising too little, but a time of fellowship and family. We all have things that we are looking forward to – that’s a good thing. But, it’s also important to remember to live today for today. Far too often we take for granted God’s grace and the gift of another day.
“Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” ~ Bil Keane
What would you do differently if you knew today was your last day? Would you spend a little more time in prayer this morning? Would you hug your loved ones a little harder as you leave the the house for the day? Would you say, “I’m sorry” a little quicker for any wrongs done? Would you spend less time on Facebook and more time face to face? Would you take time for gratitude for the gift of another day? Would you call up someone and tell them you loved them? Would you remember to smile when you meet someone and cry when you hurt someone? What would you do if today was your last day?
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