Written the morning of the day I died?
10th September 2020
Peter Farley is encouraging us to make best use of the time we have left on this planet
Who hasn’t got any fears about the coronavirus? Either for themselves, their family, their community, their nation, or the World? Certainly, it made me think – simple and obvious thoughts yes! It reminded me that we have all been diagnosed with a fatal condition
This is a piece which I shouldn’t have written – yet! As it turned out, it wasn’t the right time, when I penned it. Nevertheless, one day it will be dead on time!
When I woke this morning, did I know today was special? Did I realise that this was the day I died?
When I reached the end of my days, were there words I should have said — words of comfort, of encouragement or praise, words of love, of grace or forgiveness?
When I reached the end of my days, were there deeds I should have done — deeds of kindness, of compassion or understanding, deeds of generosity, of unselfishness or service?
When I reached the end of my days, were there thoughts I should have considered — thoughts of goodness, of purity or humility, thoughts of gentleness, of patience or integrity?
They say you can take nothing from this world, but they are wrong — you can take regrets! As I walked out of this world into eternity, was I carrying a burden of what-might-have-beens? Was I weighed down with the remorse of unspoken words, undone deeds, and stillborn thoughts?
But I didn’t know today was special; I didn’t realise today was the day I died. But then I didn’t need to know, I didn’t need to realise. All I needed to do was to pause at the start of the day and ask myself, what words could I say today — words of comfort, of encouragement or praise; words of love, of grace or forgiveness?
What deeds could I do today — deeds of kindness, of compassion or understanding; deeds of generosity, of unselfishness or service?
What thoughts should fill my mind today — thoughts of goodness, of purity or humility, thoughts of gentleness, of patience or integrity?
What a difference I could have made, to my last day in this world. I could have walked without regret into the life to come. Unburdened, I could have run down the hill into eternity, rejoicing that in the darkness of the day of my death, I had uttered words of comfort, of encouragement or praise, of love, of grace or forgiveness
I could have given birth to deeds of kindness, of compassion or understanding; of generosity, of unselfishness or service. I could have given life to thoughts of goodness, of purity or humility; of gentleness, of patience or integrity. All these might have brightened the day of those I met, on the last day of my life
These words, these deeds, these thoughts, were my last gifts — to all those I loved, to all those I knew. Did my gifts bring them joy, consolation, contentment, pleasure, or peace? If so, I have no regrets, for living the way I did — on the day I died!
image by drippycat from Pixabay.com
this article also appeared on Network Norfolk
A would-be Word-Weaver, Peter Farley (founder of The Matthew Project) is a father of five and grandfather of thirteen. He lives and worships in Sheringham. He is a Sheringham Town Councillor and one of the founders of Sheringham Shed - a local community meeting place
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