My Last Day

“It’s not how you start your life, it’s how you finish.”

Confronted with these words, I chronicle the timeline of my life. Like a stock chart, a roller coaster, or a heart machine, there is little consistency. I’m up. I’m down. And there’s really little in between.

When my days are done, how will I have lived?

One day, Will be I viewed as a good husband, a partner to the end?
Will I have loved with integrity, honesty and faithfulness?
Will I be viewed as an honorable father, an example of how to live a life?
Will I be seen as a loyal friend, always true?

In every one of these areas I’ve been a failure in the past. But there’s still time.

So this is my last day. At least it might be. So how will I act? What will I do?

In the end, a faithful life is much more acceptable than one filled with fireworks that flash brilliantly, then get sucked into the night.

In the end, a life of integrity is more desirable than one filled with grand tales and wordy flights of fancy.

In the end, a life lived for others does much more good than one lived for self.

Right now there are hoards of flowers out, a sign of Spring. But a winter storm is moving in — and by the end of the week they’ll be shriveled, frozen by the cold blast. They were pretty, but did they last?

Will Rogers said, “Live your life in such a way, that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.”


May I watch my words
May I guard my heart
May I check my thoughts
May I live this day
As if it were my very last

Psalm 86.11. “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”