My Last 20

My mother died at age 62 from advanced colon cancer. I'm 42. It's hard to believe that when my mom was 42, she was down to her last 20. That got me thinking. What about me? When is my time? I sure hope I'm not down to my last 20, but maybe I am! I can't be sure. I don't even know if I have one day left, let alone 20, 30, or 40+ years. God knows, but I don't.

The other day, these thoughts led to an epiphany for me. I don't have much time left! Whether it is one day, or 20 years or more, the clock is ticking. I've got my dad's side of the family. They all live long, long lives. My grandmother just died at the ripe old age of 95! My grandpa is still living at age 94! If that's me, I've got another half century, at least! But on my mom's side, they all die young. Mom died at age 62. Her sister died a few years later at age 66. Their dad, my Grandpa George, died at age 66 too. Their mom, my grandmother, died around age 70. Three of them died of cancer and one of heart failure. I don't know what to think! Maybe I'll fall somewhere in the middle?

It turns out, if you're not God (and I'm not), it's really hard to say when you're gonna die. So I'm going to start with 20 years. That's my goal. In 20 years, I'll be the same age my mother was when she died. Every year after that will be like the whipped cream on top. In 20 years, my kids will all be grown up. A few might even have kids of their own! In 20 years, I'll probably still be paying college bills, but I'll also be getting close to retirement! In 20 years, I will be able to say I have lived a great and full life, but I sure will want to live more of it! Again, and as usual, God knows, but I don't.

So I made a deal with myself today. More importantly, I made a deal with God. I rededicated my life to the most important things. I want to make the most of the next 20 years! I pledge every new day to Him! I will be faithful. I will be a great husband and father to the glory of God. Of course, I'll make lots of mistakes too! I will work very hard to serve my savior, to learn His Word, to live the life! If I live as if I'm down to my last 20 years, and it just might be my last 20 years, then an amazing 20 years it will be. If I obey more than I have in my first 42, and love more, serve more, study more, pray more, deny myself more, lift others up more, care more, act more, listen more and live more, then that will add up to a life well lived. Whether it's 62 years, 72, 82, 92 or 102, I hope to enter eternity after making the most of the current life we live. I hope you will too.