One Minute Can Change Everything!

One minute.  Crowds cheering. Daughter rides peering.  Sitting on a convertible.  Waving to the crowds.

Homecoming.  Princess.

A little more than twelve hours later.  8: 50 a.m. in the morning.  Driving to Jazz Choir.  To sing the National Anthem. Turns out onto a busy street.  Gets swiped by a large truck.  Spins wildly. Out of control.

Seconds from cheating.  Death.

And although.  She walks out of it. Without a scratch.

The reality of how quickly life can pass.  Lingers within my chest.

One minute. Waving.  Smiling.  On top of the world.  And the next.  We can literally.  Be on the brink of death.

And there is no one smart enough.  Strong enough.  Capable enough to stop it.

We all have a fate.  The truth of our mortality.  Creepy at our window seal.

And it doesn’t matter if we believe in God or not.  Even the strictest atheist.  Will come face to face with….The knowledge of life after death.

And as I recount the goodness of God in sparing my daughter from this car accident.  I rejoice that He has a plan for her.  Instead.  And it is a good one.  

I know it.

After all, He lifted her to be Homecoming Princess in a little over a year of starting school.

And to think.  She came from being homeschooled.  Eight years.  Everyone knowing….she is a Christian.

And who would think….in Public School.  A once Homeschooled girl.  Rising to glorify Jesus.

And I breath.  Look around me.  This morning.  Thanking God for my blessings….the ones I missed yesterday….Before the crash.

And why is it tragedy does that to us?  Makes us see the things that we have been missing? The things we take for granted…..all too often…..all along?  

Rejoicing that although we can plan and orchestrate and dictate our lives…..

Every breath.  Every action.  Every day that we live…..

Is a gift.  Yes, it’s simply, a gift from God.

So, my request to you, this day is this?….

• Hug the one’s close to you.  
• Take time and pray.  
• Fearlessly love. 
• Say what you need to say….to those you need to say it you.

For, the tighter we grip. The less that we own.  And each day is a gift from God alone.

And it doesn’t matter how good we are.  Or even how much we pray.  Nothing is ours.  Not even the guarantee of another day….

It’s all a gift of grace.

So, today.  I hold my daughter tight.  Fearlessly look into her eyes.  Telling her to….

• Let nothing intimidate her.  
• No matter what happens…..never be afraid to really live life.  
• Be a light in this world.
• Pursue the Kingdom with fervor….
• Proclaim Jesus loudly…

Because a world is out there.

Waiting…..

Hungry to see Jesus.

And you may be the only Jesus around…..