This is a question we have asked ourselves every day for the past year. The reality of our mortality has been forefront on our minds. The truth is that we all have limited days on the Earth. We are all dying in a sense.
Every day we have woken up with the reality that it could be our last together on this Earth. It has taken us the entire year to get past some of the fear from this question. It is a powerful question, but when it is a real possibility, it can be very scary. The what-ifs can be paralyzing. It has been a process to learn to live with such an uncertain future. At first, we didn’t dare plan a week ahead. Now, we are making plans months in advance, which feels really nice. We know that it’s possible that these plans will change, but we have to continue living. It is a hard way to live, but it can also be a beautiful way to live.
What would you do differently if you knew it could be your last day on the Earth, or your last day with a loved one? This question has made us re-evaluate a lot of things. We are quicker to remember what is most important. For us, that is relationships with family, friends, and God. We spend more time making memories. We cherish moments and think to take pictures more often. We seize opportunities when they arise, when, in the past, we may have let them slip by. Greg has recorded his life story. We make God a bigger part of our daily lives and our family life. We are more careful with our time and how we spend it. Each day means something. They are not all good days. There are days we are grateful weren’t our last together, but we have made some positive changes.
Howard W. Hunter gave us all some great food for thought when he said: “Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. … Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. …Speak your love and then speak it again” (Godoy, Taylor G., April 2018 General Conference), (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter [2015], 32; adapted from “what We think Christmas Is,” McCall’s, Dec. 1959, 82-82).
Something we have realized is that Today is truly a gift. It is the only moment in time we have complete control of. We can think about the past all we want. We can worry about the future. Neither does any good. Today is what we have. It is the most important moment in time.
What are you doing with your day? Who do you love, and do they know it? What is one thing you can do today to strengthen a relationship with someone you love? What is one thing you can do today to get closer to your goals? Post in the comments below.