The Fragility of Life
Weekly devotional by Barbara Sanders

Psalms 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Until we face death, we don't really realize how fragile our lives are. I walked into my beautician's for my regular Friday morning hairdo and overheard her talking to another patron about a woman that comes in the beauty shop. I heard the word 'death', and said, "Who died?" And she told me. I was so stunned, knowing I see this woman almost every Friday and she hadn't been sick to our knowledge. Yet, here on this morning, she was dead. Life is uncertain, and sometimes death comes as a 'thief in the night', and she did die at night. She had pneumonia, was taken to the hospital, and suddenly, on the day she died, she had to be rushed to the intensive care unit. And, there, she left this world to meet her maker. When we get up each morning, we don't realize it could be our last time to step out of bed on to the floor. Each time we take a ride in a car, bus, or plane, it could be our last ride. We just don't associate life with death, although we come here dying a little each day. That sounds morbid, but true. Remember how we used to pray the prayer at night, 'Now, I lay me down to sleep; I pray thee my soul to keep. If I should die, before I wake, I pray thee my soul to take"? We were going through a ritual at that tender age, but we were also praying to a God who was listening to our little hearts speaking to Him. He sent his angels to watch over us through the night time. And, in the morning, we woke up and went our merry way. He has shown us mercy throughout our lives, probably saving us countless times from destruction and death. And, until it's our appointed time, He will continue to watch out over us, as His children. We should continue to walk in His way, never forgetting that it is HE that has made us, we are HIS people, and the sheep of HIS pasture. Although life is fragile, and we could cease to be at any time, remember we will reign with Him, if we live for Him.

Heavenly Father, we know we are nothing without you. Our lives are doomed without the Spirit of God residing in us. Help us to reach out and touch you, and become a part of your Kingdom. We give you praise and glory. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.