Several months ago, my son’s father-in-law passed away. He was a victim of cancer. He didn’t last long after his diagnosis, and his dear wife considers that a blessing.
During a Christmas visit with our son and his family, this courageous lady and I spent some time talking about her husband’s death and the circumstances that surrounded it. She faces each day with courage and determination to keep his memory alive but also to face the reality that nothing about life is a sure thing.
This man left four grandchildren, all of whom loved their Dad dearly. They were heart-broken when he died. Without bitterness or anger their grandmother talked to them about the importance of accepting things as they come.
What a legacy this woman is leaving to her grandchildren. She is teaching them the very thing that the scripture tells us. James says in James 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (KJV).
This has made me think about how we put off things, thinking we have plenty of time. This is true of personal, everyday things; and it is true of spiritual things.
We put off making a visit to someone sick. We put off sending a card. We put off making a phone call. Sometimes we have a second chance, but often “things” get in our way, and we never get around to doing what we intended to do. Sometimes it is too late.
We have really good intentions, but the cares of the world get in our way, and we fail to do the things that matter the most. This is especially true with things we think of as good deeds.
Last year, I determined that I would make more of an effort to prepare food, make visits and phone calls, send cards, and do some of those “little things” that I had not been doing as often as I should. I did better, but I need to do much better. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but I am resolving to do better this year than I did last year.
What gets in our way? What causes us to delay, procrastinate, or just avoid doing the things we know we should do? Could it be that we lack commitment to God?
Paul told the Galatians, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Those opportunities are there every week. We hear the announcements or read them in our bulletins that someone is sick, recovering from surgery, suffering loss, or needs encouragement. The opportunities are not the problem. The problem comes when we don’t respond to the need.
In my conversation with my son’s mother-in-law, she told me that as her husband became weaker and drew closer to death, many people avoided them. They couldn’t face seeing this once-strong and vibrant man in his pain. They even quit calling because they didn’t want to hear that he was continuing to decline. How sad! She understood their feelings, but their actions put a burden on her that should not have been there. She needed their friends. She needed the support. She needed their friendship.
I suspect that many of us will have to answer for failure to respond to the needs of others. We know we need to do those things, but we just don’t take the time to do them. James said in James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knowth to do good, and doeth it no, to him it is sin.” So, since we know to do good, we need to do good as often as possible. After all, life is short. Let’s not waste it!
Sandra Oliver