Morning Fog

Friends of mine, Tom and Deb, have been walking a really difficult road these past few months. Their daughter, Allyson, fought a valiant battle with cancer but lost. Years ago, this family were members of my previous church in Maine. I knew Allyson and her sister Erin since they were little girls. That’s how I will always remember Allyson. As my little girl. The little girl who jumped into my arms to greet me. She was all of seven or eight years old when I left to come to Hartford.

It is hard to see her parents in such pain. No one should have to bury their child. God knows how this feels as He watched His one and only Son die on the cross. However, because of what Jesus did, a future was assured for Allyson and you and me. I was so blessed to hear that just a few days ago Allyson wanted to be baptized. Her parents baptized her as an infant, but now that she was an adult and had come to a saving faith in Christ, she wanted to make that public declaration herself. Deb asked a local pastor to come and perform the sacrament at the hospital. “She wasn’t able to be fully immersed, but she got pretty wet,” Deb said. Because of Allyson’s faith, I know she is going to be okay. Our prayers will be answered. She has been healed and is now rejoicing in the presence of Jesus in that place where there is no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.

Allyson is just fine. Tom, Deb, Erin, and all of us who loved Allyson now have to deal with the hole left in our lives.      

Allyson was not a funeral I expected to do. She was only twenty-four-years-old. It reminded me of what Jesus’ brother James said, “Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good” (James 4:13-15).

Yes, none of us know what tomorrow brings. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us. I say this only as a reminder. Do not wait to tell someone you love them. To tell them what they mean to you. For, indeed, our lives are like morning fog. When you think about it, life is short no matter how many years we live when compared to eternity. Therefore, none of us should be deceived into thinking we have lots of remaining time to live for Christ, to enjoy our loved ones, or to do what we know we should. Instead, we should live for God today! Then, no matter when our life ends, we will have fulfilled God’s plan for us.     

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