September 22, 2021 – Click here to listen
One of my biggest regrets in life was not spending more time with my mother while I had the chance. She was tragically taken home by God at just 52 years old with no warning. She had a very bad headache one day and she mentioned to my father that something was bad wrong. So, even though it was Sunday she insisted upon seeing the doctor right then. When she walked into the doctor’s office, she let out a little gasp and then collapsed and died. It turned out she had an undiagnosed brain tumor and it had burst a blood vessel in her brain.
I vividly remember that I was working that day and though I hated to work on Sunday I was just so far behind I felt as though I needed to get caught up. When I got the call at work from my weeping wife, that project didn’t seem all that important anymore. And today it is a distant memory, but it burns through my soul that I had not even so much as talked to her in weeks. I was too busy . . .
In my youth my mother had been an atheist as was I, but she got wonderfully saved and later, after many hours of her on bended knees praying for me when I got saved and baptized myself, we became very close for the first time in our lives.
She lived in Columbus Mississippi, and I lived in Atlanta Georgia and the roads were not even four-lane at the time. It was 9 ½ hours one-way to see her. With a 2-year-old son and another who was merely a baby and a very demanding career whereby I was trying to pull myself out of poverty I just didn’t go see her that often. Cell phones were not invented, and it was harder to talk than today and we didn’t talk that often. Hard but not impossible and as I ponder it today, I would give anything just to tell her goodbye for now and tell her I love her.
It is one of the biggest regrets of my life to this day. I would gladly drive 19 hours roundtrip to see her; heck I would relish the thought of driving to California or going anywhere on earth to see her. But alas that opportunity is gone, and I will just continue waiting until God calls me home to see her radiant smile.
It was on my heart today to share this with you just in case there is someone with whom you need to spend more time and kiss and tell them you love them. Give someone you love a call today, or better go see them and be sure and tell them you love them.
Yes, a career is important, but it will not take the place of those loved ones who are suddenly called home. My mother seemed to be a picture of health, but all was not what it seemed; we just never know. If nothing else Covid has taught all of us that life is fragile, even for the seemingly strong among us.
Ask yourself if you were suddenly called home, is there anyone you should have spent more time with and told them you love them? If the answer is yes, then remedy that by starting today. Surprise them by telling them that you just called to let them know you appreciate and love them.
Expend a few moments of your busy life thinking about this; even five minutes may open your eyes. Check out this quote and apply it to your life:
Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.
STEPHEN VINCENT BENÉT
1 Peter 1:24
For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,