Live Until You Die

It is true that often we do not get much of a choice in what we are able to do as we age.  Physical or mental limitations hinder us from living our lives as we would like.  But for those who are blessed by being able to keep their mental faculties and maintain some mobility I have a question.  Are you going to live until you die?

What prompts this question is the memorial service for my mother-in-law, Anina Walberg.  She went on short term missions trips to Venezuela with Peace Officers for Christ when she was 79 and again at 80.  She maintained a mailing ministry and did bookkeeping for a preschool until this past December at age 96.  She continued to call individuals and sing them a version of the birthday song that called on God to bless the person whose birthday it was up until days before she passed away.

All of us are given gifts and abilities.  And like a fruit tree, these resources are not intended for our own consumption.  Our fruit is produced to be used by someone else.  As a pastor I have seen far too many people launch their children and then begin to focus on themselves for the next four decades or so.  Or people with small children focus on nothing but their own family for the first couple decades.  What the Bible seems clear about is using our gifts throughout our lives.  

It is true that some seasons create some limitations.  Our time in SoCal was committed to Anina and that time commitment increased as her health deteriorated.  Even in this season we were able to use our talents to help others.  In most seasons in our lives there is enough time and energy to involve ourselves in the lives of others (in a healthy way) so that they are blessed and we get to use our gifts.

If you’re interested in hearing how Anina lived until she died, you can watch her memorial on YouTube.  She lived well.  She died well.  And as a result she is honored at her memorial service.