If I Had…One Month to Live
Of course, the off the cuff answer would be to focus on my family and love them more. But then that makes me come face to face with the question “why is that one-month-to-live goal and not a life goal?” I think this challenge or questions is a complicated one and deserves more than a trite answer.
Honestly, if I had one month to live I’d quit cleaning the house, hire a maid to clean and do laundry, order out every single night and slack on the parenting skills. I’d want my last month to be a stress free as possible. I’d want to really enjoy my family, maybe read a couple of good books, and probably not even work on my novel.
But how realistic is that, really? Although I first approached this assignment from the perspective of trying to live my life every day as if I had one month to live, it’s not really realistic. On a certain spiritual level it is and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of blog posts out there aiming to live a life of love and compassion to others in the month left, but in reality I can’t live my everyday life as if I had one month to live.
If I did my thoughts would not be on future goals and dreams which I believe are just as important as daily goals and dreams. If I lived my life like I had only 30 days to live, life would be extremely different and I’m not sure it would be that much better.
Sure, I whole-heartily believe we should act and love each other as if this was our last day on earth, but how easy is that to do? Not easy at all. If I was able to do it, then I’d never yell at my kids, and I’d treat my husband with kindness and respect all the time. Realistic…nope! But definitely something we should aim for.
Just because I don’t know when my time will come doesn’t mean I shouldn’t strive to treat people like it will be my last 30 days. I think that’s the heart behind this challenge, though I haven’t read the book that inspired it. No, I’m nowhere near perfect, and I sin in attitude and deed daily, and I will never be perfect until I am with Jesus, but we can look to Jesus’ example. We can try to be like him. Someone who lived like he only had 30 years to live.
I just had a light bulb moment on this subject, but since I know my 90 seconds is up, I’ll post tomorrow. Please come back. You won’t want to miss it!
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Can’t wait to come back for the light bulb moment.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:16 amHa! I thought this was going to be a review of that book, One Month to Live, or something like that.
October 16th, 2008 at 10:16 amIt’s a hard question. I’m not sure what I’d do differently.
Gina,
October 16th, 2008 at 3:06 pmSo glad you are participating! I look forward to reading your “light bulb moment!” Have a great day,
Genny
Hi Gina, I found your blog through a link of a link of a link…anyway, just wanted to say hi. This is a thought-provoking question! I don’t know if I’d do anything different, except I’d try to straighten my stuff so it wouldn’t be a chore for other people to go through. This is assuming, of course, I had good physical strength.
I saw your WIPs below on the side — how are they going? Don’t know how you have time while homeschooling — I’m very impressed. Are you a member of ACFW?
Blessings…Amy
October 16th, 2008 at 4:21 pmGina:
I loved your honesty in this post and you expressed so many things that I had tried to write. I often think very realistically too and thought, well…if I really only had 30 days I’d probably be very sick… but I don’t think that was the goal of the book so I left that part out of my post. I’m looking forward to your lightbulb moment.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:22 amIt definitely is a tough question and I didn’t read the book, but lots of great thoughts at Mycup2yours.com
October 17th, 2008 at 11:00 amContest 2009. So true. If I had only 30 days to live I wouldn’t want to waste my time cleaning and cooking either. I would spend the time with family and doing things i enjoy and have always wanted to do. When you are dealing with everyday life you can’t live like that. You have a different set of goals. When you know you only have so many days you are going to want what you can have now, instant gratification, since you know you no longer have a future. fascinating post.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:49 amCONTEST2009 This got me to really thinking! Monica
January 6th, 2009 at 11:03 amContest 2009> My ideal would be to do as much as I could in those 30 days, things that I’ve always wanted to do, but never find the time. But I think the most important thing would be to lose that fear of telling people of their need for a Savior.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:45 pmContest 2009! It would depend on my physical and mental capacities for that month. Hopefully, I could be of rather sound mind and body. Peace is what I would hope to find. Thanks, Cindi
January 9th, 2009 at 1:39 pm