You Die Like You Lived

    Even if you are not a country music fan, you are probably familiar with Tim McGraw’s, “Live Like You Were Dying.” It’s a great song with a great message.
    But have you considered that most people die like they’ve lived?
    I was struck with the news article I read online about the woman in Houston who was found in her home after having been dead for several months. She had a son who lived less than 10 miles from her, and other family nearby, but no one bothered to check on her or wondered why they had not heard from her. No one found it curious that her phone did not answer, or why the house was always dark. Not family, not her neighbors. One neighbor said, “She kept to herself and didn’t interact with us and we didn’t bother her.” Not even after she had been dead for months.
    How sad. But it is the fruit of a life lived that way. She didn’t pursue relationships with her family, not even her own children. And they didn’t pursue back. She didn’t care about her neighbors. And they didn’t care back. I would imagine her funeral was quite empty.
    I conduct dozens of funerals a year. I’m choosy about who I marry, but not who I bury. I try to take advantage of funerals in order to share the gospel. But I have to say, conducting funerals for selfish people is hard. And you can usually tell, even when you didn’t know the person. Because they almost always die like they lived. If they loved other people, they were surrounded by loved ones when dying and those loved ones make it known, not only by their presence, but by what they say and how they say it at their funeral. People die the way they lived.
    How are you going to die? I’m not asking, “if”. We know that answer...you will and it will probably take you by surprise. But how you die, whether alone or surrounded by loved ones, is being determined now...by whether or not you are loving those ones who could be there when you need them and when you are gone.
    How much you accumulate, how many arguments you win, juicy info you learned or shared about others, things you did for yourself, none of that is going to be precious to you as your life comes to a close. But loved ones you have gathered by loving others selflessly today...that’s what will matter, and they will be precious. I hope you are busy gathering them now. 
    “Live like you are dying.” It’s a good saying. “You die like you are living.” That’s a true saying. But you really get something when you put the two together. If you live like you are dying, you’ll die like you really lived.