making {every} minute count...

Life is so uncertain... this past weekend I took care of a very young man with cancer. He had undergone the most advanced treatment & had seen the best of the best in terms of oncologists & hematologists yet was dying. His last wish to his bride was to go home & die there. I discussed the options of Hospice with the family & we got it set-up for ambulance transport to his house & the Hospice team would be waiting for his arrival with a hospital bed & anything else to make him comfortable. All day Saturday I kept waiting for the "right time" to get him alone & talk to him. Finally I cleared the room to remove his porta cath {a device used to transfuse his chemotherapy} & I found myself whispering through my surgical mask, "I have to ask you.. do you know Jesus?" {with a huge lump in my throat}. "YES", he said with tears rolling down his cheeks {me too of course}. "I do, but I'm so glad that you asked me"! I held his fragile hand & tried to pull myself together. His precious wife came in & all I could think of was her & how her world was about to change forever. Finally when we rolled him out to the ambulance & I walked his wife to her car, I got to speak to her. She told me of how they decided not to have children and how they had made the most amazing memories together over the years. And how she was so fortunate to have met him so young so that they could start to grow old together. She wept there in the parking lot & I just listened & cried right along with her. Lastly she said how grateful she was that God had given him to her & how much she had to be thankful for. She told me to promise her to "try & make every minute count"..... That night I hugged my sweet Joey a little tighter & tried NOT to take our time together for granted. I too am thankful for my blessing in him & want to "make every minute count"! So today I challenge you all to start to "make every minute count" too- hug your sweet one a little tighter & remember that this life is a vapor.....