When Mortality Knocks

When mortality knocks, everyone listens. My neighbor, who also happens to be our daughter’s father-in-law, passed away on Christmas day. He had been ill for over a year with a cancer and in spite of all the known medicines and treatments no cure or remission ever came. He had a short “bucket list”, wanting to travel to Europe, which he fulfilled, accompanied by his wife and daughter, only twelve days before his death. 2009 had filled my soul to the brim with the illnesses and deaths of family and friends and I for one was looking forward to a new year and prayerfully a year of joy and health. However, there was one more wake-up call on the horizon, no one saw coming. While preparing a photo collage DVD for her father-in-law’s funeral, our daughter suffered a stress heart attack. Needless to say, she missed attending his funeral, but will survive her own mortal demise for now. It’s hard to know all of what goes on in the life of another, but in times like these, it seems oh so easy to give advice. While we’re examining the neglect in tending to our mortal bodies, we’re ready at hand to prove the consequences on a personal level, showing a desire for our loved one not to suffer the same. When it gets right down to it, the best I can do is pray for a healthier body and mortal awareness.
Mrs. Watson was terribly overweight. Her doctor put her on a strict diet. “I want you to eat normally for two days, then skip a day, and repeat this procedure for two weeks. The next time I see you, you will have lost at least five pounds.” When Mrs. Watson returned, she shocked the doctor by losing nearly twenty pounds. “Why, that’s amazing!” the doctor said, “Did you follow my instructions?” Mrs. Watson nodded affirmatively. “I’ll tell you though; I thought I was going to drop dead at the end of the third day.” “From hunger you mean?” asked the doctor. “No, from skipping!”
After Bible class, where she had been taught about Jesus’ return, a little girl was quizzing her mother, “Mommy, do you believe Jesus will come back?” “Yes”, mother replied. “Could He come this week?” “Yes.” “Could He come tomorrow?” “Yes” “Today?” “Yes” “This hour?” “Yes” “Mommy, would you please comb my hair?”
[Jeremiah 8: 4-20] He brushed his teeth twice a day, with a widely approved toothpaste. The doctors examined him twice a year. He wore his boots when it rained. He slept with the window open for the fresh air. He stuck to a diet with plenty of fresh vegetables. He relinquished his tonsils and traded in several worn out glands. He golfed, but never more than eighteen holes at a time. He got at least eight hours of sleep every night. He never smoked, drank or lost his temper. He was all set up to live to be one hundred. His funeral was Wednesday. Twelve physical specialists, four health institutes, six gymnasiums and numerous manufacturers of health foods and antiseptics, survive him. He made just one mistake. He forgot God and lived as if this world was all there is. Humanity strives to survive on history passed, learning from its mistakes, to stretch life a precious few more days, weeks, months even years. All the while, much of humanity is ignoring the history of the God who gives life. Throughout the Bible, God begs mankind to get to know and understand him. The God given spirit within you will never die for it is made in the image of God, who has always been and will always be. Consider the health of your spirit before, “summer has ended, and we are not saved.” God loves you.