A Moment Such As This

This morning, as I was laying in the bed waiting for the alarm to go off ~ you know, basking in the delight of not having a rush around like crazy morning, yet knowing it was time to rise ~ and the phone rang. Any time the phone rings before 6am (when every person in my house is home) this early in the morning, I either assume it is hubby's work, OR..... not so good news.

This time, it was no different. It was NOT good news. My beautiful and loving cousin Melissa passed away. She had been fighting Leukemia which she was just diagnosed about a year ago. At one point she was in remission, and had just undergone a bone marrow transplant earlier this month. Things were looking up. She had been receiving platelets, but that is sometimes common after this procedure.



Melissa Jones

I am honored to have been this angel's cousin, though our lives took different paths as we grew older and into our own adult lives. If you feel so inclined, please pray for her children (pictured on each side of her in this pic) Tyler (on the left) and Shelby (on the right). Also pray for her grandson, that he may be blessed by the stories of his grandmother, be encouraged by her courage, strength and determination.
Just a few months ago, I received an earlier phone call ~ (In November) and was told about my own sister's sudden passing. I am just encouraged this morning, and having this feeling that we need to get it right! We are here today, gone tomorrow sometimes with NO warning. The sins we do, we need to repent from and STOP repeating them. There will be a judgement day for us all, and I don't want to be caught off guard and end up having a long list of unGodly habits (otherwise known as living in sin) that I did not spend time in repentance for. It is silly and irresponsible to say "Oh, I will wait till tomorrow to build a stronger relationship with God" or "I can enjoy this now and i will repent tomorrow!". What if tomorrow never comes? (okay ~ please pardon the Garth Brooks thought).

We were created for such a moment as this. To enjoy it, to embrace it, to live it ~ but to allow it to glorify God! Life has an off switch ~ and we have no clue when it will be turned off.