There is a time for everything,
And a season for every activity under the heavens:
A time to be born and a time to die...
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Reflections...
There is always that constant reminder that with life...there has to be death. With the recent passing of a loved one, I have been reminded again of this reality. Even in the midst of it all, as I ask why and pray for the loved ones left behind, God has been unchanging. I am thankful for the peace we have in Christ and the hope of seeing our loved ones again.
This was my reflection in February of this year "staring death in the face" (it could encourage YOU today...)
February 19th 2012:
One week ago I get a
call from my sister about the death of one of my favorite
musicians...reminiscing with one of my best friends as I told him the news, he
said wow I cannot believe our favorite artist is gone...Whitney you are gone
but forever in our hearts! That moment started a whirlwind of a week, 7 days
of... no words can describe it.
Caught off guard by news of a loved one's
diagnosis with breast cancer, a student attempting suicide on campus and being
by scene as medics try to stabilize him. Heart aching for a best friend who
happened to get there right after it happened, the shock anguish and questions.
Four students standing as one, waiting for detectives to ask us questions about
the incident. Pain for the roommate who has to deal with this...the silence was
deafening as we felt the burden. Mustering enough calmness to pray, for his
family, for him, and the rest of the campus. What do u do when u do not expect
this to happen at your campus? We get so busy with academics wanting to make it
professionally...are we really living? We are missing opportunities to see
people and their pain. The attempted suicide came just a couple hours after
receiving a text from yet another best friend...her friend committed
suicide...why is there so much pain? Topping that off by spending Saturday in
ICU with an aunt who is in heart failure realizing that just the night before
she was at deaths’ door, but by the grace of God she is still alive. Standing
there talking to her as she struggled to breath...having pneumonia as well, I
could not help but wonder…Ndinda what r u living for?
Am so blessed to know
love and be loved. Waking up every day alive and healthy is a reason to party
like there is no tomorrow. We have to make the best of our lives, taking the
time to care for people and most importantly care for ourselves. Am a work in
progress, and I know that God is not done with me yet...I am alive for a
reason. I almost died at birth and my mom almost died giving birth to me. It is
only by the grace of God I am here and hence my Nigerian name Amalachukwu which
means God's grace. Over the last two years I have been in two accidents that
could have left me dead or paralyzed but God has seen it fit for me to continue
living out my destiny. There is so much suffering in the world from friends
with parents in the hospital, to friends facing tough decisions, to survivors
of human trafficking, to the sick fighting for their lives. I wish life did not
come with pain but since it does, we have the role to be that friend that might
save another person’s life. Smile because that might be what someone needs to
keep living. When you ask someone how they are doing…take time to actually
listen to their response. That could make a world of difference.
Life will for sure know you down...get up and keep trying and NEVER forget to be thankful!
