It’s New Year’s Eve, a time often filled with celebrations, resolutions, and hope for the year ahead. But tonight, I find myself in a place far removed from glittering parties or festive cheers. I am at the bedside of the woman who raised me, who is battling the relentless grip of cancer, a battle she knows she will soon lose.
Life feels fragile tonight. As I watch her, the words from Ecclesiastes echo in my mind: “What is life?” Indeed, life is but a vapor, fleeting and unpredictable. The start of the new year feels bittersweet, each tick of the clock a reminder of the precious moments slipping away.
For the first time, she reaches for my hand and doesn’t let go. I let her hold it, her grip weak but her spirit unyielding. She begins to speak, her voice soft yet resolute, carrying the weight of someone ready to transition from this world. Her message is simple, yet profound: “Give your lives to Christ.”
She speaks not of regret or missed opportunities but of love, a love so deep and abiding that it compels her to urge her loved ones to turn to Christ. “He is the anchor,” she says, her voice trembling with urgency. “Nothing in this world matters except what you do for Him.”
A young man comes to visit her, a friend or relative perhaps. He struggles with alcoholism, yet, he shows no sign of it. He is clean-shaven and well-dressed, showing no outward sign of struggle, but she looks at him with knowing eyes. She speaks to him gently, yet with purpose: “Live for Christ. Change your ways. I want to see you in heaven when your time comes.” He listens intently, his expression softening as her words sink in. He promises her he will do his best to follow the path she is urging him toward. Will he follow through? Only time will tell, but tonight, her words seem to spark something in him.
Tears stream down my face as I listen to her. She gives instructions for the details of her final farewell, where she wants to be buried, what photos to use, which scriptures to read. She doesn’t want a lot of photos in her program, she says, just enough to remind people of the life she lived and the faith she held dear.
As midnight draws near and the new year begins, I am struck by the enormity of her faith, reminding me of my grandmother, her mother. Despite her pain and the inevitability of death, her hope remains unshaken. She knows that God is the only constant, the only thing that remains after we take our final breath.
This moment has taught me more about life, love, and faith than I could have imagined. Life is fleeting, but Christ is eternal. If there’s one thing I can carry into this new year, it’s her message – Give your life to Christ. It’s a call to live with purpose, to love deeply, and to serve wholeheartedly.
The new year may be bittersweet, but tonight I am grateful. Grateful for her life, the memories, and her unwavering faith, a faith that points us all to the One who never changes.
