"But Do It Soon"

Article 24 of 37 from the Ponder This - 2004 series

June 2004 - “BUT DO IT SOON”� by Ray Pritchard Last night my wife Marlene shared with me an e-mail she received from a woman she has never met. It all started several years ago when Nick was diagnosed with an autoimmune blood disorder. After a series of failed treatments, he underwent surgery that reversed his symptoms so that he regained his health. In the weeks leading up to the surgery, Marlene joined an Internet support group for people with similar problems. The woman who oversees the support group has a 13-year-old daughter who suffers greatly from the particular disorder. Her situation has gotten much worse in recent months, so much so that she doesn't want any more treatments because they are extremely difficult to endure and she isn’t getting better. The doctors say nothing more can be done. Here is part of what her mother wrote in the e-mail: "Hospice came in this morning to get started with her and us””they were wonderful and I know will be a great source of support. The doctor told me she expected it would be a matter of weeks””not months." Then she adds these words of strong faith: "For so long our focus has been on saving her and now that there is nothing left to do, this is a difficult transition. We fully believe that she is going to a wonderful plac”far better than this one, but our void will be massive." She then said the only thing a parent can say at a time like this: “Please pray for her to pass quickly and gently with as little suffering as possible.”� Since many people know about her daughter's valiant fight to live, there was a note to those who wanted to write or send a gift. She loves the toys inside Happy Meals. Her mother added these words: “Have a Happy Meal and send her the toy””but do it soon if you want to!”� “But do it soon.”� There is a lesson here if we care to take it. Life is so short for all of us. Most of us expect to live a while longer””a few more days certainly, most likely a few more years, and many of us think we'll be around for 30 or 40 or 50 more years. But the Bible reminds us of a deeper truth: “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”� (James 4:14). We are all just a mist, a vapor, a bit of morning fog that appears briefly and then vanishes away. Is there a call you need to make? Is there a person you need to see? Is there a letter you need to write? Don't put it off. No one lives forever. Not you. Not the other person. No more excuses. Do what you need to do. “But do it soon.”�