Death Is All Around Me: Should I Be Worried About My Own Death?
Posted: Friday, June 11, 2010
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
The last couple of years have held some losses for Jim (my husband) and I. First his mother, followed by his sister and brother. Now, one of our best friends is dying of cancer. Jim and I are at the “golden age” where these things are happening more often. We are definitely in a new season of life. It is a season of uncertainty and also reality. The reality being that we probably don’t have that many years left. Should I be afraid? Should I be worried?
I am going to be honest with you. Even though I am a Christian and believe in a life after this one, the human part of me wants to rebel against death and losses. The human part of me wants to have a life that never changes – a life of security against loss, hurt, and uncertainty. Most all of us know that we can’t tip toe around grief. We have to go through it to get to the other side.
A few years ago, a car rammed into the rear of my car. I was stopped at a red light. The driver got out of the car and apologized to me. Then, after the apologizing, she confessed to me that her mind was not on her driving. She had recently lost a loved one and was immersed in grief. She then explained that she was getting better; as she slowly realized that death and being with our Lord is really what we are all working for. I let the words drift into my soul and through the years thought about those words so much and how true they are. We are all working toward the goal of being with Jesus, yet when death actually begins to happen, we fight it because we are human. Humans have a will to survive.
Will I continue to go through grief as these losses present themselves? Will I be worried about losing Jim or which one of us will die first? I have to honestly answer, “yes” because I am human.
However, underneath all this “humanness” is the Holy Spirit who is a comfort as well as a teacher. He will guide me through these storms and ever patiently teach me to not be alarmed. He is teaching me that even though I am in a new “season of life,” he is ever present.
God knows all about the “seasons of life” and he is already ahead of me, ready to comfort.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiates 3:1
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)I believe the grieving process and some fear is normal but allowing either to control your life is when it becomes unhealthy. I think God set it up that way. Good article Fran.I never thought of it like that- that God set it up that way but I guess if we didn't have that human element, we wouldn't have the desire to live. Thanks for reading, Linda.
I have to admit that I think about my and my husband's mortality from time to time, Fran, but that doesn't really frighten me as much as the thought of losing one of my children. My sister recently lost her son with no previous illness and no warning. He was in his car (he had just come out of a restaurant after eating breakfast), in a parking lot (thank God), on his way to work and his aorta burst and that was it! You just never know when it's "your turn", but I thank the Lord every day for the life I have enjoyed and pray that when it is my turn, I'm not in pain and discomfort for days, weeks and months, but I know that won't be my choice, either. Every minute of my existence, I am where The Lord wants me to be.Good, thought provoking article, Fran.Shari, my oldest sister also lost her son, suddenly. It was his heart. My sister had lost her husband about 5 years previous to this. She has really had a rough time. I can't even imagine how painful it is to lose a child.I feel that same way - I am where the Lord wants me to me. By submitting to that fact, it gives me peace.
Thanks for your thoughts on this subject, Shari.
Shari, anonymous is me (down below) Fran
Thank you for this article, Fran. Reading the words that have been in my mind lately brings home the fierce reality of truth. Survival is human nature, it's a built-in mechanism. It's how we keep going when gettin' gets tough. I think it's only natural for our thoughts to lean this way as we get older.All the best - MaxiYes, I think you are right, Maxi. The key is not to let it overwhelm you, so that you don't live in the present. Life is for the living. Thanks for your reading and response to my article.
If you know where you are going and who will be there it sorta takes the sting out of it all, doesn't it?Yes, my sweet friend...it sure does!
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