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Daily Question, June 8

How would I live this day, if I thought it might be my last?

  • Love Abundantly

    If I thought it might be my last day- which I often do- I would live my time in play with my children. I would email my adult son a love letter and I would also email James my last love letter to him. Before I closed my eyes I would have my children in my arms, with one last photo of us together.

  • Gloria
    During my life, people have asked me, "If you had one day to live, how would you spend your last day?" I would often reply, "I honestly don't know." Jesus knew. He washed feet. Jesus. Washed. Feet. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. He washed the feet of those who had talked to him, walked with him, slept with him, ate with him, and spent their time observing flowers with him, those who served thousands by feeding them with a young boy’s lunch. Jesus washed the feet of those who lov...

    During my life, people have asked me, “If you had one day to live, how would you spend your last day?” I would often reply, “I honestly don’t know.”

    Jesus knew. He washed feet.

    Jesus. Washed. Feet. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. He washed the feet of those who had talked to him, walked with him, slept with him, ate with him, and spent their time observing flowers with him, those who served thousands by feeding them with a young boy’s lunch. Jesus washed the feet of those who loved him and followed him. He washed the feet of the one he knew would deny him three times, as well as the one he knew would betray him before the night was over. Faithful. Denier. Betrayer. Traitor.

    Jesus KNEW Judas was going to betray Him, yet Jesus served him. Jesus knew what was in Judas’ heart. He knew the betrayal was coming. Jesus knew the anguish that was coming. The beatings, the scourging, the agonizing walk to Golgotha, and the ultimate torture of the cross. Yet, even in this moment of humbling Himself, Jesus washed Judas’ feet, this man Judas who was pivotal in fulfilling the Scriptures and prophecies about the Suffering Servant.

    Have you ever struggled to serve someone close to you, someone you cared for, someone you loved who had hurt you? Our flesh sometimes finds it difficult to humble ourselves, to serve others, and to put their needs before our own. Can you imagine putting a traitor’s needs in front of your own? Could you have put Judas’ needs before yours? Judas, the betrayer. Judas, the traitor.

    Gloria, the one who ignored the voice of Jesus as he called me back to him for several years. Gloria, the one who turned her back on Jesus. That was me. Gloria, the sinner.

    A sinner. That is what we have all been at one time or another. That is what some are even now. Be honest with yourself and with Jesus. Sinner? Denier? Backstabber? Betrayer? Traitor? I am the one who put Jesus on the cross. You are also the one. It was my sin, our sin, that put Jesus there. How many times did I reject the voice of Jesus, his call on my life? How many times did I turn from God’s grace to live, act, be, and do what I wanted for my own selfishness? Yet, Jesus served me by going to the cross.

    This is not only humbling because of my sin, it is also encouraging because of how much Jesus loves me. Even though Jesus knew me and knew my sins, He loved me and he served me by going to the cross. Even though Jesus knew I would reject Him, He went to the cross willingly. He went above and beyond the act of washing my feet. Jesus washed my entire being with his blood. He did the same for you.

    John 13:14 “So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet as well. 15 For I gave you [this as] an example so that you should do [in turn] as I did to you.” 🕊️

    I am to lay aside my own needs, my own pride, and serve others. I am to love, serve, and do for others as our Lord Jesus Christ loved and served me. 🕊️💜🕊️

    If you had one day to live, how would you spend your last day?

    Love, in Christ…
    Gloria

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  • KC
    I would savour the time with my family and dear ones. " Mother Nature herself, and express gratitude in a multitude of ways to Sophia, who has been and is with me and us for so long... I would write that letter to our Mayor and Councillors hat is weighing heavily, and send it on it's way. They meet today about a contentious issue which has huge implications for the current and next seven generations. I would practice savasana in a full-bodied way as best I could, knowing that this wo...

    I would savour the time with my family and dear ones.

    ” Mother Nature herself, and express gratitude in a multitude of ways to Sophia, who has been and is with me and us for so long…

    I would write that letter to our Mayor and Councillors hat is weighing heavily, and send it on it’s way. They meet today about a contentious issue which has huge implications for the current and next seven generations.

    I would practice savasana in a full-bodied way as best I could, knowing that this would be the practice that really counts, and that all the others have been preparation for ….

    I would embace and savour each moment as best I could, relax, surrender and breathe deeply and, like by beloved Mother, do my best to die happy, peaceful, relaxed and beaming with beauty, serenity and joy …

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  • Camille

    I would read the Psalms and thank God for this day. I would then count all the wonderful blessings in my Life and ask for His Strength and Favor to share my gratitude with those who have blessed me. Finally I would thank Him and then humbly ask for his Favor to live another day. Thank you, Father!

  • Mica

    Saying goodbye to my dear family and then seeking time alone in which to die.

  • Anonymous

    experience it, tender heart, be gentle, soft

  • Ose
    For me, when taking this thought seriously and discarding my first controlled and thoughtful reply from behind my safe protecting shield, it would break my armor of anaesthesia towards all the painful I perceive which I carry with me. This question allows that then at least, I can give a wake up- call, saying to my fellow people through whatever channel available “Dream! and dream big! please, I beg you, go for Love and Peace, no matter what – it really is the only thing that counts for each...

    For me, when taking this thought seriously and discarding my first controlled and thoughtful reply from behind my safe protecting shield, it would break my armor of anaesthesia towards all the painful I perceive which I carry with me. This question allows that then at least, I can give a wake up- call, saying to my fellow people through whatever channel available
    “Dream! and dream big! please, I beg you, go for Love and Peace, no matter what – it really is the only thing that counts for each and everyone on Earth, it counts heartbreakingly! it makes all the difference, Wake up please! Go and embrace your neighbor, speak softly to your child, give a tender kiss to your wife, your husband, your partner, please do care for your sisters and brothers. It is so easy what we all seem to have forgotten and which would make this world a thriving, warm and peaceful home for all. and (like it is expressed in the word for the day today) – we have only one life, only one planet to live on, it´s one!

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  • Hermann-Josef

    I would ask my friend to take care of my daughter and himself, wright a view lines to say thank you to some people and then stay with my breathing lovingly moment by moment. But I really don’t know what will be then and how I will be then. It is always the last moment because it woun’t come back

    • Barb C

      Each moment is the last moment because it won’t come back. Yes.

  • Hot Sauce

    If I thought this day might be my last, I would write an autobiography to give one last testimony of the wisdom I have gained over the years, and I would give any money I had in the bank that wouldn’t go to student loans to social justice organizations.

  • Barb C
    I often record a morning poem for my two daughters in our WhatsApp thread so I'd be sure to pick one that I'd want them to be able to listen to as a comfort. I would also try to set up a video call with them but they have full and busy lives and today is a Wednesday so that's unlikely to work out; we usually talk on weekends. I would hug my husband hard and tell him how much I love him (which I do every morning anyway). I might do one of my big cooking sessions to leave him some things in ...

    I often record a morning poem for my two daughters in our WhatsApp thread so I’d be sure to pick one that I’d want them to be able to listen to as a comfort. I would also try to set up a video call with them but they have full and busy lives and today is a Wednesday so that’s unlikely to work out; we usually talk on weekends.

    I would hug my husband hard and tell him how much I love him (which I do every morning anyway).

    I might do one of my big cooking sessions to leave him some things in the freezer–not that he can’t cook, but for him to have a taste of me after I’m gone. Or I’d propose we go on one of our bike dates that involves riding downtown, getting takeout, and sitting by the water to watch the boats in the marina. Simple pleasures.

    And–super shallow, but just possibly–I might look at my social media spaces and post something I could be proud of having stand as my final statement. This is a reminder to tweet/post things I can be proud of every time, which I try to do in any case. I guess I’m thinking of being a bit more profound because I’m good with words and this would be my final signposts. I wouldn’t want to spend the day writing a blog post so a tweet it is.

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    • KC

      Beautiful Barb,

      What a lovely, imaginary last day.

      Not shallow at all from my wee perch, to send out one last post on social media.

      I often think of Maya Angelou’s last tweet, five days before she died…

      “Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God,”

      Post away! 🙂

      Warmly, KC

  • Mary Pat

    I would get in touch immediately with my children and grandchildren and spend the day with them.

  • Butterfly

    I would tell all my loved ones how much I love and have appreciated them and hug them if possible. I would eat chocolate and lie in my beloved garden watching the birds and the bees and soaking up the wonderful sights of all the flowers around me, feel the breeze on my face and wait peacefully to pass over.

  • Laura

    I would try to live to the fullest, to be part of the joy in each moment, each breath.

  • Javier Visionquest

    And this day will never come again but I would want nothing left unsaid.
    I sure do love you!

  • EJP

    Expect less and enjoy every moment.

  • Conchita

    I would go on road trips spend time with people I care about and eat ice cream

  • Kevin
    II’d stop this line of thinking and instead make plans for tomorrow. These kinds of questions remind me of this passage: “Maybe you’re right, boss. It all depends on how you look at it…. Look, one day I had gone to a little village. An old grandfather of ninety was planting an olive tree. ‘What, granddad!’ I exclaimed. ‘Planting an olive tree?’ And he, bent as he was, turned round and said, ‘My son, I carry on as if I should never die.’ I replied, ‘And I carry on as if I w...

    II’d stop this line of thinking and instead make plans for tomorrow.

    These kinds of questions remind me of this passage:
    “Maybe you’re right, boss. It all depends on how you look at it…. Look, one day I had gone to a little village. An old grandfather of ninety was planting an olive tree. ‘What, granddad!’ I exclaimed. ‘Planting an olive tree?’ And he, bent as he was, turned round and said, ‘My son, I carry on as if I should never die.’ I replied, ‘And I carry on as if I was going to die any minute.’ Which of us was right, boss?” (Kikos Kasantzakis/Zorba The Greek)

    Read More
    • KC

      Wow – Kevin. This is beautiful… Thank you so much for sharing this. I tried reading Zorba the Greek a few years ago and found it a bit raw. It may be time to revisit it… It seems that Kasantzakis was/ is a pretty wise fellow … Warmly, KC

      • Kevin

        Thank you, KC, always a joy to hear from you. I’m glad, and grateful, we two are both still here, feeling, seeing, and sharing this day!

    • sunnypatti

      I love that, Kevin. Thank you 🙂

  • Don Jones

    I don’t feel there is a last day. Last day in this body – yes, but I sense there is more to this existence. Perhaps a lot more. I don’t know for sure, but there is an ever present whisper, a beautiful fragrance just beyond the edge that beckons. So, I live this day fully aware, go about my business quietly and purposefully. A smile comes …

  • Antoinette

    Full of gratitude and thanks 🙏
    Say yes to each moment and thank you 🙏

  • Michele

    If I thought today would be my last day I would certainly call out of work for starters. I would try to spend the day with my family and do a lot of reflecting and letting everyone know how much I loved them. Since I would be leaving my body I would try to utilize my senses- eat my favorite foods, smell my favorite smells, listen to my children’s voices., see beauty in nature around me.

    • Barb C

      Ha, one of my first thoughts was “well, I’d cancel or skip a lot of meetings!”

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