Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh

I wonder how peaceful our sleep would be if we took those words to heart before we went to bed each night after the events of the day bounced us around a bit.

I wonder how our days would go if we embraced those words of Christopher Robin for our lives as we put on our shoes and stepped out into whatever was before us in the sunshine of a brand new day.

Last night I went to the visitation in honor and remembrance of a forty-four year old young man who died a few days earlier in a car accident. He left behind a widow and three small children. Later today I will attend his memorial service.

Two nights ago I received word from a dear friend requesting prayer for Pastor Rick and Kay Warren, having lost their twenty-seven year old son to suicide a night earlier. Their son had been suffering for some time under a cloud of severe depression—which apparently led to that sad, sad moment.

One time around in this life God has given us. We have been given one day at a time to live to the fullest and to make the most of—or not. We have been given the gift of the lives of loved ones that have blessed our lives and would leave a huge hole in our lives were they gone.

Yet I would suspect that most of us, if not all of us, live as if we had all the days we wanted. I’m not sure we want to trust that belief.

I also suspect that we live life each day, not giving a whole lot of thought to the reality that this could very well be the last day we ever see the ones we love—bride, husband, children, grandchildren, friends, others who bless our lives. Again, I’m not sure we want to trust that belief, either.

I don’t want to seem melodramatic about all of this, but I wonder when we will start to live each day of our lives as if it is the last we may have. Because it very well may be the last. If that were our approach—I wonder how we would talk to those we love and who love us.

When was the last time you said to someone to remember that:

You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem,

and smarter than you think.”

I wonder if we would leave the side of our loved ones as readily and often as we do. I wonder if we would stay that extra few hours at work each day so we could win the game on Saturday, or make sure to get that new account at the office that might lead to a raise or a promotion. How many times will we do that—and at what cost to the lives God has given us, and at what cost to our life which God has given us?

What causes us to live like that—to set aside those important people and things in our lives so we can chase the transient and secular? Maybe someone didn’t tell us often enough something like Christopher Robin said to Pooh, or something similar. Maybe we have fallen or failed too much and need to prove we can do it.

All at what cost?

I think I’ll wear my gray suit today with a white shirt and soft gray and brown tie. I can’t imagine what his bride, small children and parents are feeling now. I’ll pray for the Warrens again on the way. I can’t imagine what they’re going through. I have a precious son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters.

We get better with our priorities for a time when walking through moments like today—but sadly only for a brief season. We need to do better—we need to live with purpose, love and with the realization that our wicks, and those of our loved ones and dear friends, are not as long as we think they are.

If I forget to mention it to you for a few days, “promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

Share that and so much more with someone else you love and who loves you.

Today, tomorrow and everyday thereafter which you are given.

In His Name—Scott

Copyright 2013. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.