Why is it...

[~Shalhevet~]

and

I think we ALL need to pray that we treat every day as if it is our last one here on earth ( some day it will be ) and everybody as if we are going to miss them after today ( some day that may well be true too ) .. the hardest words to bear are the " ...if only "

Amen. It is our sinful nature that takes people and things for granted. I am so guilty of this. And even when I remind myself over and over to change my attitude towards certain people, I never change. All we can do is continue to pray about this. There is so much that we all have to be thankful for. I know that I am truly blessed by our King. The people that He put in my life are so precious to me.

[~Shalhevet~]

Ya know, what a timely topic!! I was just sharing with the other moderators my "lesson"....God has corrected me twice now over this. Your "why is it question"...just struck me

I've decided to share my lesson....it was private....but not anymore:

God sure does have a way of correcting us in our hurried lives, impatience and irritated thoughts.

Our town ( I think every town has one) has a 61 year old man that has been a fixture for his whole life. When he was 12 he was ran over by a car, he suffered head injuries, then after that he had a barn beam fall on his head. Dave Dill is his name and he has brain injuries that make him a whole lot different from what "us humans" consider normal...but Dave is normal in every sense of the word...afterall "normal" is different to everyone right? We just have to expand our perceptions. The Lord loves him no matter his mannerisms and quirks.

Dave likes to walk the town. He stays up all night, he is train obsessed, he only sleeps after the sun comes up, then he is out about town again by noon. He visits every business that has accepted him since he was a child. He remembers and tells tales of all the business's that are gone now. I've known Dave for years and years, I worked at a party store in town when I was a teenager and have known him since then.

He comes in my store everyday at least 4 times a day. I hear the same stories over and over again. He (I"m sorry to be blunt) farts loudly in front of other customers and when I chide him for it he explains patiently to me that it is a "Perfectly normal bodily function" I admit I keep lysol at my register and when he does this I chase him spraying his behind! So he has cut way down on that so called "bodily function"

He explains to me everytime when there is a jet entrail in the sky that it is the AirForce protecting us. If I say it is a passenger jet..he just glares at me and tells me to "shut my dirty mouth"....his favorite saying by the way...

Other business owners who've known Dave as long or longer than me are shocked that he brings me his train magazines and lets me actually touch them. He even leaves them with me to to read a paticular article that he thinks I should. He brings me his prize gladiolas in summer, which makes these other people gasp in shock and awe, he will allow NO ONE near them, but yet he cuts them for me to keep my store bright he says.

Twice now I have grumbled to myself and was on the verge of impatience, afterall I have so much to get done, and its so hard to just stop and listen to him sometimes...I have distributors on the phone wanting my orders and customers wanting to tan and rent movies....he doesn't care he will stand there and wait....grumble, grumble and a few mean thoughts of "why can't he just leave me alone for a bit?"

I was once on the verge of telling him in no uncertain terms that he would have to cut his visits down to once a day....I was adament that it needed to be done. Well God had other plans...the Lord sent me a dream that night...Dave was crying in that dream, someone had hurt him, just plain broke his heart and he was standing in front of me crying! I actually woke up seething mad...ready to take on the whole town because Dave was crying...then I woke up fully and felt a horrible shame because I remembered what my plan was for that day...I asked God for forgiveness and vowed to never think it again. But because I am human I got to that unGodly point again today. I'm so ashamed, I was impatient and thought grumbling thoughts everytime he walked in the door...then tonight before closing he walks in with a brown paper bag...inside is a Poinsetta plant he got for me...his exact words "I got this for you Angeeee(yes thats how he pronounces my name) because it will make the store and bright and because you are such my goodest friend" I reached out and took his hand with tears in my eyes and cry to the Lord to please forgive me......I thanked him and told him he was my friend too.

Lord forgive me as I sit here and wallow in guilt/burden so heavy that I'm crying. I ask the Lord to help this lesson stick, may I forever smile when he walks in. May I never take Dave for granted or get frustrated, may the Lord give me the tools to always LOVE him as I should...

Thanks for listening....

I guess your topic Isaiah....also taught me NOT to miss opportunities...

thank you! Prayers to you for comfort and peace!

What an incredible man. He reminds me of a man I know that frequents the coffee shop I work at. He can be kind of a pest but has a real heart. I need to be more patient with him.

[Guest]

Amen!

Praying!

[wyguy]

Why is it... That we don't realize how important someone is to us, until they are gone?

The short answer would be because human beings are selfish, dumb, and in denial when it comes to the subject of death. We always believe it happens to "other" people at unsuspecting times. And it will only come to us and our loved one when we're all old.

We all believe when we lay our heads down to sleep at night, that we will wake up in the morning. We all believe when we walk out the door in the morning, that we will walk back through it in the evening. We drive past graveyards every day, and never think about the day when we ourselves will be in a coffin covered with earth.

How many people have gone out to do some mundane task, like picking up a gallon of milk, and gotten into a car accident and entered eternity? Countless......

That's why it's SO important to make sure our families know how much we love them. And to tell them often that we love them. That's why the Bible says to never let the sun go down on your anger. Tell your wives/husbands/children that you love them before they go to sleep at night. Tell them you love them when they walk out the door in the morning. Because one day, they will not walk back through that door....

I'm very sorry for your loss, Isaiah.

[Isaiah 6:8]

Why is it... That we don't realize how important someone is to us, until they are gone?

The short answer would be because human beings are selfish, dumb, and in denial when it comes to the subject of death. We always believe it happens to "other" people at unsuspecting times. And it will only come to us and our loved one when we're all old.

We all believe when we lay our heads down to sleep at night, that we will wake up in the morning. We all believe when we walk out the door in the morning, that we will walk back through it in the evening. We drive past graveyards every day, and never think about the day when we ourselves will be in a coffin covered with earth.

How many people have gone out to do some mundane task, like picking up a gallon of milk, and gotten into a car accident and entered eternity? Countless......

That's why it's SO important to make sure our families know how much we love them. And to tell them often that we love them. That's why the Bible says to never let the sun go down on your anger. Tell your wives/husbands/children that you love them before they go to sleep at night. Tell them you love them when they walk out the door in the morning. Because one day, they will not walk back through that door....

I'm very sorry for your loss, Isaiah.

Thanks Brother!

[RGR]

I can relate as I've actually lost two friends on Facebook to death this year.

The first was a friend of mine from high school. Very good natured guy who we always picked on (in a good way) when we had a chance. He seemed like he was 12 feet tall when we were in high school and he naturally played basketball. We'd always tease about his height or if we put him in a dark room, he could open his mouth and his white teeth would give him away (nothing racial meant by it-he always thought it was funny).

Fate was murdered earlier this year in Memphis. I don't remember the exact specifics of it, but I know he was saved, so I know I'll see him again. Apparently he was a minister of some sort and was simply trying to make a difference in the lives of others. I can't remember Fate ever having a cross word with anyone in school, he was always easy going and the fact that someone murdered him makes me mad.

The second friend I can't say I know real well. She was a mutual friend of friends I had met online and I requested to add her. This past Sunday (I believe) I saw her brother posting to tell everyone she had passed away. Not a very old lady at all....probably in my age range.

Obviously family gets you as well as old friends. I know some would say an online friendship isn't a big deal, but a death here hit me personally. I know many here don't know or remember Shadow2B, but he was my friend even though we never met in person. We all knew he was not in good health, but it was still shocking to see the post saying he'd passed away. I suspect he's up in Heaven teaching the angels to speak in Shadow talk lol!!!!!

[anitarose]

Why is it... That we don't realize how important someone is to us, until they are gone?

The short answer would be because human beings are selfish, dumb, and in denial when it comes to the subject of death. We always believe it happens to "other" people at unsuspecting times. And it will only come to us and our loved one when we're all old.

We all believe when we lay our heads down to sleep at night, that we will wake up in the morning. We all believe when we walk out the door in the morning, that we will walk back through it in the evening. We drive past graveyards every day, and never think about the day when we ourselves will be in a coffin covered with earth.

How many people have gone out to do some mundane task, like picking up a gallon of milk, and gotten into a car accident and entered eternity? Countless......

That's why it's SO important to make sure our families know how much we love them. And to tell them often that we love them. That's why the Bible says to never let the sun go down on your anger. Tell your wives/husbands/children that you love them before they go to sleep at night. Tell them you love them when they walk out the door in the morning. Because one day, they will not walk back through that door....

I'm very sorry for your loss, Isaiah.

My goodness....intelligence and a sense of humor...that's almost scary....

[traveller]

Obviously family gets you as well as old friends. I know some would say an online friendship isn't a big deal, but a death here hit me personally. I know many here don't know or remember Shadow2B, but he was my friend even though we never met in person. We all knew he was not in good health, but it was still shocking to see the post saying he'd passed away. I suspect he's up in Heaven teaching the angels to speak in Shadow talk lol!!!!!

My dear friend Gary (Shadow2B). How I loved that man. I still think of him often - miss him terribly. I thank the Lord that He saw fit to let Gary be in my life for a season.

The death of someone close to us always brings to our hearts a sharper awareness of the frailty of life. We focus then on the dramatic separation, knowing they are still alive but out of our realm. It is a helpless feeling, thinking of the unsaid words and undone acts. However - as believers in Jesus we know that it is far from over.

The best thing that we can do in memory of those we have lost is to turn our hearts toward giving and mercy to the living that are still in our sphere of influence - whoever they may be.

[RGR]

Obviously family gets you as well as old friends. I know some would say an online friendship isn't a big deal, but a death here hit me personally. I know many here don't know or remember Shadow2B, but he was my friend even though we never met in person. We all knew he was not in good health, but it was still shocking to see the post saying he'd passed away. I suspect he's up in Heaven teaching the angels to speak in Shadow talk lol!!!!!

My dear friend Gary (Shadow2B). How I loved that man. I still think of him often - miss him terribly. I thank the Lord that He saw fit to let Gary be in my life for a season.

The death of someone close to us always brings to our hearts a sharper awareness of the frailty of life. We focus then on the dramatic separation, knowing they are still alive but out of our realm. It is a helpless feeling, thinking of the unsaid words and undone acts. However - as believers in Jesus we know that it is far from over.

The best thing that we can do in memory of those we have lost is to turn our hearts toward giving and mercy to the living that are still in our sphere of influence - whoever they may be.

[wyguy]

Why is it... That we don't realize how important someone is to us, until they are gone?

The short answer would be because human beings are selfish, dumb, and in denial when it comes to the subject of death. We always believe it happens to "other" people at unsuspecting times. And it will only come to us and our loved one when we're all old.

We all believe when we lay our heads down to sleep at night, that we will wake up in the morning. We all believe when we walk out the door in the morning, that we will walk back through it in the evening. We drive past graveyards every day, and never think about the day when we ourselves will be in a coffin covered with earth.

How many people have gone out to do some mundane task, like picking up a gallon of milk, and gotten into a car accident and entered eternity? Countless......

That's why it's SO important to make sure our families know how much we love them. And to tell them often that we love them. That's why the Bible says to never let the sun go down on your anger. Tell your wives/husbands/children that you love them before they go to sleep at night. Tell them you love them when they walk out the door in the morning. Because one day, they will not walk back through that door....

I'm very sorry for your loss, Isaiah.

My goodness....intelligence and a sense of humor...that's almost scary....

Unfortunately, they never manifest themselves at the same time.