death, Faith, Family, fathers, Hope, life

April 4, 2024

13 Comments

Today I am exactly the same age as my dad was when he died.   

60 years, 9 months, 3 weeks, 4 days.  Exactly. 

I’ve had this day on my bulletin board for several years.  I don’t fear it, but I’m not excited about it either.

Sometimes life just trickles drips of water.  Other times, it explodes like a tsunami, rushing in, washing away all we are familiar with, and leaving nothing but scattered debris across the heart. Still other days contain an awe of seconds that last a lifetime.  

Life has those days.  Good ones, like Christmas.  Bad ones, like fuzzy x-rays.

I’ve had far more good days than bad.  The Lord has blessed me beyond measure!  A beautiful wife, a great family, friends, good health, a home.  None of these I deserve. None I could earn.  

My father could’ve said the same thing.  

He was one month away from an early retirement.  He dropped dead, literally, when he was leaving work.  

He had an unremarkable physical exam two weeks before he died.  No red flags, no warning signs, no flashing lights. Two weeks later, all of those were present. 

No one saw it coming. It wasn’t expected.  

He just, died.

Now today, twenty-two plus years later, I’m the exact same age.

I need to say it, but not talk about it.

It’s odd, but I honestly don’t know how I feel about it. Curious.  Maybe a bit superstitious. Sad, but glad.  Emotions, lots of them, bounce around like a popcorn kernel in the middle of a popping pot.

Dad would tell me to walk confidently through this curtain day.  He’d say to go burst into the light of tomorrow.  

He’d say plan for the future, but live like it’s your last day.

He’d say count your blessings, tally your moments, number your days.

It’s true.

Tomorrow the sun will shine with blue skies and singing birds.  Count the blessings. Number the days.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  Psalm 90:12. 

13 thoughts on “April 4, 2024”

  1. Hi Jeff, isn’t it true about the good days outnumbering the bad and the volume of God’s grace that He bestows on the undeserving. God grace is God’s grace and we’ve only just begun to taste of what lies ahead. Savor each day and be thankful, neither eye has seen or ear heard, nor entered into the heart of men, the things that God has prepared for them that love Him. Blessings!

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  3. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this day. It gives all of your readers something to think about. We all need to accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and live for Him who died for us.  We all have an expiration date. Only God knows.

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  4. well I’m rootin for ya Jeff. My siblings and I have admitted to holding our breath on both our mom and dads promotion days each year. I usually need a walk in the woods and a lake to reflect on. The exact day though…wow

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  5. I love that you know the exact date of this milestone in your life. What a perspective from which to walk forward in gratitude and purpose. I like what Jean said- we do not know when God plans for us to take our last breath, it is imperative to be prepared- to have Jesus in our hearts and to keep short accounts with Him. Your testimony about your dad sure proves that! I can’t help but smile at the conversation you will have with your dad, one glorious day, about your thought process today. Blessings, my friend!

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  6. Thanks for sharing this bro.

    I am becoming more aware of my mortality. And for me … I’m working to live one day at a time. I’m aware of the future and living today. My life and my body belong to God. And God gets me today. 😀

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