She Passed Away In The Night

My friend passed away in the early hours of the morning. She was 44 years old. Six weeks ago, the doctor thought she had IBS; the truth was that she had aggressive colon cancer. She made the rest of us seem dull as she boogie-boarded with her children and embraced life enthusiastically. A person of strong faith and intense interest in other people, which included a huge heart for those who struggled and needed support.

She did not know she was dying of cancer while helping our two daughters win a “MasterChef“ competition at church. Her life was marked by strong convictions, a disciplined commitment, and a love for her husband and children. She was the glue that kept people together and was not afraid of a challenge. My friend was all these things, and now it will only live forth in our stories and memories.

Her death isn't a reason to start living with intention, although her life inspired others to live with commitment. We must decide on the motivating factors in our lives that encourage us to be better, think clearly, and live well. Every person who has embarked on an intentional journey will tell you that it is in the living of that intention that creates meaning. Making the plan and planning the course is meaningless and empty if living with the choice does not follow closely on the heels of the planning.

None of us knows how our lives are going to turn out. Will you sit in the sun at 98 and wish it could all be over, or will your life be shorter than you could ever imagine? The meaning of our existence is captured in our impact here on earth. Anyone who does not choose ultimately loses out on experiencing meaning in the reality of day-to-day living. Living intentionally never implies circumventing trouble, misfortune, or disaster. It provides the committed an opportunity to engage with reality and live a purposeful and authentic life.

Intention makes it possible to:

· Define what you stand for ·Show others who you are ·Be deliberate with your day ·Be purposeful with your time ·Be considered with your focus ·Be mindful of your most important relationships ( including your relationship with yourself).

There are many things that each of us hopes to achieve in our lifetime. Some of these things will happen, even without a concerted effort on our side. Those things that are truly important to us will probably take commitment and require a certain amount of effort. Do not waste the opportunity to engage with your life. Make your plans and achieve them. Experience the joy and satisfaction of your life that it is being lived well. Make your presence count in the lives of those you love and those you pass daily. Intention crafts significance and meaning. Living with purpose is inconsequential if it does not become your truth and form part of your daily behavior.

Practically speaking, intentional living starts with answering a few questions such as:

· What do I think is true? · What do I believe to be true about me, my life, my future, and my purpose? · Do I believe that I have some control over my life? · What do I want to do about this? · Am I happy and content in my world? · What are the things that I would like to change? · What do I need to do to create such change? · Who is important to me? · What relationships make my life miserable?

These are only a few possible questions that might help you to start the journey of living with intention. Your answers make it possible to rethink and reorganize your actions and behavior. The purpose isn’t the solution to all problems, but it is a mindset that can free you from being irrelevant in your own life.

My friend lived her busy, full life, intentionally serving her loved ones and embodying her firm faith conviction. She struggled with things she wished she could do better and blessed many with those things that she did brilliantly.

We should encourage each other daily to enjoy that cup of tea, engage in the conversation you must but do not want to have, and be observant of the beauty and blessing surrounding us, even on gloomy days.