Departure Date

A friend of mine, Sandy, experienced a loss in her life last week when her boss passed away. He was only 41 years old. I have met one of his sons and he is such a sweet spirited boy. I feel sorry for him and his family. I know what it is like to lose a father. This got me thinking about death. I know, not a fun topic to think about. But the truth is we are all going to pass through that portal one day. As Hank Williams said "We'll never get out of this world alive."

My aunt passed away only a few months ago. I have struggled with her death. I miss her desperately. She was a very special woman. I love her dearly and I can't express how painful it is not to be able to talk to her every day. Each morning we would both email one another. She was living in Florida with her daughter the last year of her life but it was like we were still close. She loved to hear my stories and now I feel like I don't have anyone to tell them to who will appreciate them. She had a similar sense of humor to me and we just clicked. She was 93 and such a wonderful woman who was loved by many. I know where she is now. She is in heaven with my daddy, grandmother and her husband, my Uncle Dillard.

I know one day I will pass over to where they are but until then I really hate death. It separates us from our loved ones for the rest of our lives, however long that may be. One man's sin caused all this grief and condemned us all to have to experience death. What a terrible mistake. God is there to comfort us as we grieve our lost loved one. I have lost someone I loved dearly and am not sure where this person is now. It is much more heart-breaking to think that I might NEVER see them again. Not in this world or the next. I have stood by many caskets in my 39 years. I have said goodbye to many wonderful people. I don't understand God's plan for our lives but I trust that He has everything under control.

I know that we each have a date when we are going to leave this world - something like a departure date. Only God knows when it will be. Some people think they have plenty of time to make things right with God and continue to live their life the way they want. I have seen babies, teenagers, middle aged men and women and I have seen young, beautiful people leave this world unexpectedly. It was definitely unexpected for a few of them. When I think of my aunt in heaven I think of her being in a place of peace, joy and rest. When I think where my other friends may be, a place of torment and pain, it devastates me. So it breaks my heart to see my family turn their back on God on a daily basis by living like there is no judgment day approaching, no departure day creeping closer and living in ways that go against God's will for their lives. They never once think of the consequences of their lifestyle. It saddens me to say this but the majority of my family would go to hell if they died today. And the scary part is, they could all die today. Any of us could. Our age has nothing to do with it. You could be driving down the road and be killed by a drunk driver, an aneurysm, or a stroke. Then you will step out into eternity and once you do, your destination is carved in stone, along with your name on your tombstone.