Living Life to the Fullest

Dear Diary,

#How_do_you_Hope_to_Die?

These days lots of TV and radio talk shows and lifestyle magazines are dedicated to guide people to living well. Eg. by eating proper diet, having regular physical exercises, avoiding stress triggers, making money and preparing for a dignified retirement etc., but rarely will you hear or read about dying well. I know death is not something to joke about, in fact no one wants to think about it; we talk about it in hushed tones. I might sound frightening especially because recently I scribbled about the brevity of life and the inevitability of death, this one more time let me write something little about dying well. By the way, is there anything like dying well?

I have been journeying through the book of Genesis and I find some themes worth pondering on deeply. So, the past week, I was studying Genesis 25 and I found something to scribble about.

Here’s a brief background of Genesis 25:1-11, after the death of Sarah, Abraham remarried and continued to live a full life. He embraced the surprises that kept coming, you know, six times he woke up to good news, “We are going to have a baby!” While Abraham was still living, he left everything he owned to his son of promise, Isaac and gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from Isaac, v.5-6. At the age of 175, Abraham died full of years and he was buried by his sons, Ishmael and Isaac next to his wife, Sarah, v. 7-10. Isaac continued to live under the blessing of God, v.11.

How do you hope to die? What can we learn from father Abraham?
1. Live life to the fullest. I know life is hard and unfair a times; you may experience failures, losses and disappointments but stay alive. Quit complaining, be proactive, create your own opportunities, and importantly live with eternity in view.

2. Never give in except in convictions of good sense and never give up. No matter the life’s setbacks, remember, God’s will is for you to live each day to the fullest and for His glory.

3. After a certain age or setbacks in life, some people actually figure life is over for them; they feel they’ve nothing more to live for; they die long before they draw their last breath. Learn from father Abraham-keep serving God’s purpose in your generation; keep learning and growing. Stay strong and finish strong.

4. As you grow older physically, stay young at heart and purpose to make your life productive.

5. Age is just but a number so said the wise guys. How old are you, not chronologically but emotionally, mentally and spiritually? Maturity is key.

6. When you draw your last breath and in your absence, what inheritance and legacy will you leave behind for your children? Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”

7. Take care of the children God has blessed you with. See, father Abraham cared for his children and even established them financially as they left to start their families. How about you, are you preparing for your family in case of your death?

8. Finally, bless your children. While you are still living, speak blessings over their lives, pray that they will continually live under the blessing of God. Above all else, train them in the way of the Lord.

Yours faithful scribbler,
NzakuNashipae