Then She’s Gone

Do you know what your purpose in life is?

For the longest time I didn’t give it a thought. Not even wondering if there was a reason for my existence. Today I have a better grasp on it. But I find it changes with time.

Or maybe it’s just me changing, realizing there is more involved to living than just existing.

I’ve mentioned my cousin Diane in a previous post. We spent a lifetime separated. Not deliberately. The circumstances of our lives were worlds apart.

During those separated years, Diane made the family she never knew as a child.

“I made a good life. I have wonderful children and we are happy.”

Diane & Julie

Except she always wondered.

Through all those sixty plus years, she never stopped thinking of me or my brother. We did share the same grandmother, after all. We had that much in common.

Doing volunteer work in the library gave Diane access to a computer. My guess is that is where she conducted her search. Obviously my brother and I were found.

What I hadn’t realized when I met Diane, was this completed her life. Finally. She had extended family of which she also belonged. That brought her satisfaction and closure.

That dreaded C word

Soon after I learned she had cancer. This was not her first go round with it. Mentally she was prepared that this would take her. And that was okay. With her, but not me. To my way of thinking, we were just getting started.

We agreed about life after death. Only she was at peace with wherever she went. I hadn’t known her long enough to share her peace. Because I wanted her with our Creator. Life is better knowing he is by our side at all times. Whether we are on planet earth or face to face.

Time is of the Essence

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Until now, my posts have consisted of past memories. Today is different.

A day can start out normal, then take an unexpected detour of events. Today I want to embrace the treasure time allows me. However, I know me too well. It’s only a matter of time (there’s that word again) when I will fall flat on my face, overwhelmed by whatever.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Life is full of the good, the bad & the ugly. Each is well known. I will share a few of my own, but you have your own list.

During the summer I had the opportunity to meet a long lost cousin. She is at war with the C word. Now in hospice care, it appears cancer is winning.

This past week a friend went to the doctor, something wasn’t right. By nightfall she was sporting a pacemaker. If she had waited a few days, thinking time will heal what ails, her husband would be making funeral arrangements.

Control, Or the Lack Thereof

While we haven’t reached it yet, my dearly beloved and I can see our 50th wedding anniversary approaching. Our relationship is strong enough that I’m confident we’ll make it. Yay!

We have raised three wonderful, independant children that live wisely. Try as we did, we weren’t perfect parents. It had to be God intervening where we fell short.

For all those days in between, that went pretty much as I anticipated. Well, it enabled me to lay my head down at night in peace. I got the trash out on time.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom 

Psalm 90:12 NIV