Have you ever been with someone when they died?  It’s an incredibly powerful, moving experience, a sacred moment that reminds everyone present of what is truly important in life.  

 

Because I am an ordained minister, I sometimes get asked to come to the bedside of a dying person and pray with that person and his or her family.  There is even a special “Commendation of the Dying” worship service for the occasion, in which I lay my hand on the head of the dying and say the following words:  Child of God, go forth in the name of God…May you rest in peace and dwell forever in the paradise of God. 

 

Recently, as I said those words to a woman who was dying, and watched with her adult children as she took her last breath a few moments later, I thought about how precious life is and who and what is most important in my own life.  I hope that when it is time for me to leave this earth, I will be surrounded by family members who love me and will go as peacefully as this woman did.  I hope that I will be remembered as a kind person whose words and deeds reflected God’s love, and as someone who helped others see their true worth and reach their full potential.

 

I also realized that ultimately it makes no difference how much money I make, whether or not my career choices qualify me as “successful” by the world’s standards, what I look like, or how many people know my name.  All of those superficial things that used to (and still do on some days) seem so important, and take up so much of my time and energy, are trivial when compared to loving and being loved, reaching out to help others in need, and making the most of every moment I have left.

 

I hope that reading this inspires you to focus on what really matters, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, lend a helping hand to someone, and take the time to stop and smell the roses or otherwise enjoy the beauty this world has to offer.  Life is a precious gift; make the most of yours!