This post may be too "in your face" for some people, but for that I will not apologize.
"Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”—
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”—
before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop...
and the strong men stoop...
Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil."
Ecclesiastes 12:1-3, 13, 14including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil."
Yesterday was a horrible day. A day where everything felt meaningless. Why? Because in the space of about 45 minutes, I found out that a friend of mine who lives in Florida and was recently diagnosed with MG, lost her son unexpectedly Monday morning. At the ripe old age of 20. A mom with MG buries her oldest son.
Then, minutes later I read that a man I have known (via my MG groups on facebook) for many years died suddenly yesterday in the early hours of the morning. He had MG, but he didn't die from it. He was wheelchair bound, and had many health issues that come along with limited mobility. He went into the hospital on Monday for a "stomach virus," and at 3:30 yesterday morning, he was given meds for nausea and his heart rate when crazy and he died. He LOVED his wife and children, and especially his grandchildren. He was ALWAYS doing research about MG and trying to help others.
I will not lie, there were times that Steven and I butted heads....he could be a bit...well....intense. (As can I). Perhaps because his intellect superseded his social grace. But he loved the Lord, and is in heaven now, free from the chair, the pain, the sorrow, the burdens of this world. And he always tried to be positive. This was one of his last posts on facebook:
"Never forget about the power of smiling and keeping a positive attitude. Don't let the shadows of yesterday spoil the sunshine of tomorrow. Always continue to smile each day because life is simply way too short to cry about anything that's worthless. Let everyone know that today you're a lot stronger than you were yesterday. Nothing is more beautiful than a smile that has struggled through tears. Use your smile to change this world. Don't let this world change your smile."
I love that attitude. It's not easy, to be sure. But Steven always remember what was TRULY important in this world.
And then this morning, another friend who lost her husband to MG a few months ago posted this:
Yup, I told you this post may be too "in your face" for some. But you know what? Deal with it. There are so many people in this world that need YOU. They need people to let them know they have value and meaning and purpose. They need to feel loved and remembered. They need to know they haven't been forgotten.
Being disabled and not being able to do what I want, go where I want, help whom I'd like to...well, it sucks. Plain and simple. I'm tired of "out of sight, out of mind." I've been guilty of it myself, many times I'm sure. But read the picture again. "Don't come visit me after I die...I needed you when I was alive."
Those are powerful words. Powerful. But truer words I have never seen. Don't wait til the funeral to make your appearance. Someone needs you NOW. Someone like you. Someone like Steven.
Someone like me.
