525,600 minutes

There are 525,600 minutes in a year! The song says “How do you measure a life? In sunsets, in cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife? How about love!”

My father lived each day to its fullest. He often said, “I may not be here tomorrow so I am going to live now, in this moment!” He loved his family. He loved quality things, good music and fast cars. He had rheumatic fever as a child and the new wonder drug penicillin saved his life. Some seem to think that this traumatic fever weakened his blood vessels and he was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 18. He had several heart attacks in his 40’s and died at age 62. He died in an instant, a moment, a minute. There was no sound, no warning, he was laughing, clutched his chest and was gone. We later learned that he had cardiomyopathy (a diseased heart muscle) and an enlarged heart. He knew that he wouldn’t live a long life without a new heart but he never told us. It was only after he passed away that Duke Hospital called to let us know that a heart had been found. My father would have been 76 years on January 2, 2010.

2009 is almost over. How have you spent your minutes? Did you give it your all? Did you love with your whole heart? Did you reach toward your dream? If you didn’t, it’s not too late!!

A new decade is minutes away. Some see 2010 as a new season, a change in the direction of their lives. Some have placed hopes and dreams in the newness that is to come. I am reminded of the moments and the minutes that constantly tick by. I am reminded that we should appreciate each of one of them now as my dad did. There is no need to wait until January 1, 2010 to begin anew! Start this instant, this moment, this minute.

Let’s not waste another minute being consumed by our senseless circumstances. Let’s forgive others as well as ourselves. Dream and push toward the fulfillment of them! And most of all LOVE! God is love and HE loves us! His love reaches to heaven! You can do it too! Love unconditionally. Hug your child a little tighter and kiss your mate a little longer. Make a new memory! Reach out to an old friend, let go of grudges, skip, smile, laugh or whatever it takes for you to release the inner stirrings that have been holding you back. Treasure your life. Treasure your minutes, your moments and as always… push forward!

Psalm 57:10

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

Psalm 117:2

For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.