Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! We are enjoying this time so much at Mark’s playing games, watching movies, going out for a treat, listening to the grandsons give reports they gave for school, acting out Bible stories, yummy meals etc. Rain is expected today but we won’t run out of indoor games to play.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Yesterday I opened up my computer to find out a gal from our former congregation suddenly died at only 54 years of age leaving behind a husband and 3 children. I stopped to pray for her family and thought of what I read while traveling in the car; it was all about how we should prepare to die and what can make us more ready when our time comes. Sometimes it comes so unexpectedly, and other times death lingers and there is a longing to go home.

Al and I are not getting younger and in our Senior apartment complex, we have experienced seeing friends die and some who have to go to Assisted Living. We want to live to our last days being prepared to leave this world for what the Lord has waiting for us. That means we don’t withdraw from life but enter into each day experiencing it fully. I know I can get caught up in the routine of things and miss smelling the roses about me. Also, so importantly, is that my heart would be continually stretched to love in a deeper way all those the Lord brings into my life. We have such a variety of people where we live from all walks of life and when our hearts are open, we can love and embrace each one with His love. Every person has something to give to us, and express something of God’s creative love that He doesn’t want us to miss. When we have a narrow view, we miss out.

While reading of John Powell in his book, Unconditional Love, a young twenty-four year old man who is dying comes to see Powell to tell him what he learned in his class that is helping him to die easier. “There are only two potential tragedies in life and dying young isn’t one of them. These are the two tragedies: If you go through life and don’t love and if you go through life and don’t tell those whom you love that you love them.” His words helped this young man tell his family and friends how much he loves them and how much they mean to him.

For all of us, let not death catch us unaware but love the Lord deeply and the others He puts in our lives and express it every opportunity we have.

Challenge for today: Today tell someone who is close to you how much them mean to you.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy