death

What legacy will you leave?

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments

William Sheldon Atwater
1915 – 2012

On May 20, 2012, my grandfather slipped into eternity at the age of 96. He left behind 3 daughters (including my mother), 2 sons, 18 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. What a legacy!

In his younger days, people called him “Wild Bill.” My grandma must have tamed him because I never heard him called that. He was a rock for the family, a pillar in the community, and a founding member of his church. He had such an infectious laugh that everybody laughed with him. He loved to play practical jokes, drink diet Mountain Dew, watch game shows, and do word search puzzles. After he retired from Caterpillar, he drove to town every day to meet his friends for coffee.

My grandpa didn’t talk much, and I never heard him talk about his faith. Instead, he lived it. He valued faith, family, friends, and hard work. Without a doubt, he met his beloved bride at heaven’s gate last Sunday.

Life is short. Years flip by with lightning speed. Our years on earth are just a speck of sand in light of eternity. Our days are numbered, with a time to be born and a time to die. (Ecc 3:2 NIV)

I can’t imagine facing death without hope, without God, without the anticipation of spending eternity with God. The good news is we don’t have to face death alone. God offers us a life with Him. He has a giant eraser, bigger than you’ll ever need for anything you’ve ever done. All we have to do is say yes to Him.

What legacy will you leave? 
What choice have you made about eternity?


Live? Or die?

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments

Cancer. Terminal. Weeks, maybe months to live.

Each one of us has an appointment with death. That’s a fact of life. But, now, not later, much later? What would I do if I heard those words? Would I continue working, attempting to maintain some type of normalcy in my life? Or would I hole up at home, depressed, discouraged, waiting to die? Would I take that trip to the Holy Land, something I’ve only thought about doing until now? Would I read the Bible from front to back, not just concentrate on my favorite parts? Pray more? Would I do anything differently?

What if my beloved husband heard those words? Would he relinquish his demanding, stressful job or continue working? Would I give up my writing to spend precious extra time with him? Would I treat him with more compassion because he’s ill and resist the urge to say “it’s not all about you?” Would I laugh at his sarcastic jokes rather than roll my eyes? Would we turn off the tv and spend that time talking or snuggling? Would I take him on his dream vacation to Antartica (not mine, thank you very much!)? Did I wake up this morning, kiss him, and whisper, “I love you” in his ear?

We cherish sunrises, shooting stars, waves crashing against the sand, beautiful mountains, colorful sunsets, a glorious full moon, hugs, touching a newborn babe’s fingers and toes, every breath we take…they’re all gifts from a loving God. A God who loves you and wants a “forever” relationship. But, He leaves the choice to you. A forever with Him. Or without.

So…which will you choose? To live? Or die?

Cancer. Terminal. Weeks, maybe months to live. I choose a forever with God. What would you choose?