Like A Vapor...Here Now...Then, Gone Just Like That

“I tell ya, I have a feeling that he will start hitting his head again once he wakes up from being sedated,” confidently reported the outgoing Intake Nurse to me, the incoming night nurse.

He was talking about the suicidal man who earlier was so loud, crazy, and started hitting his head and punched the heavy metal door with his right hand. That there was no choice but to send him out to the county’s ER so he could be treated for a laceration he sustained on his left eyebrow and his knuckles that got swollen on his right hand. In ER, the doctor gave him a combo of medications to calm him down and make him sleep.

Confident as he was, my confidence was on my Guardian, Whom I sought before going to work that night. Knowing that I was always limited with things that were about to happen. While He already knew before hand. I remained hopeful that my pleas were answered even before things were about to occur.

I checked on the naked man. Naked, as he was very suicidal and not allowed to have anything to prevent him from using them as potential weapons to hurt himself. The wild man the PM nurse described was calm in front of me. He was answering appropriately. He was cooperative. He declined my offer of water. He was positive that he wasn’t thirsty at that time. He thanked me when I told him that I would monitor him all night long. The loud yelling was replaced with soft whisper-like answers through the slits of the metal door so I could hear his replies. The angry demeanor depicted from the report had a smile shown to me and even in the soft glow of the yellowish light inside the cell, his perfect teeth glistened.

“Sleep! Go get some rest,” I commanded.

“I can’t. But I’ll try, Ma’am. Thank you,” he softly uttered. I saw him get down on the cold floor. Turned to his left side and used his left arm as his pillow. Slowly, he closed his eyes. And he remained quiet all throughout the night. He never gave me any problem.

The PM nurse’s prediction did not happen. It was my answered prayer that prevailed.

There is nothing wrong with being confident in this life. But life is like a fog. Here now…Then…Poof!!! Gone just like that.

We easily forget that we don’t have a lot of time to live. We just don’t know everything that is about to happen. If we want to have a meaningful life, we must live each day for Christ! So that, no matter what happens, even if our lives end, then we will discover that we have fulfilled what His plan is for us.

“13 Look here, you people who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog --- it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.”
- James 4:13-16

So...now...what are you doing here still? Go tell your spouse, children, friends that you love them :) Give them a hug and a kiss. And spend each day as if it's the last. Lord, may we be aware of each passing minute. That every minute is so precious. May we not waste the time doing things that do not glorify you. Please give us the boldness to share Your gift of forgiveness to those who haven't known nor heard about it. May your will be done in my life, O Lord. Thank You for Your love and mercy. I love you Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

20 comments:

  1. Amen, "spend each day like as if it's your last". I like a song my Steven Curtis Chapman called The Next 5 Minutes. "I'm living the next 5 minutes, like these are the last 5 minutes...cause maybe the next 5 minutes is all I'll ever have.". Praise God for His provision for you that night and always. (((hugs)))

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  2. Precious. Not a moment to waste, is there?!

    I know so many people that have piled up regrets over things they can no longer change. I pray I never have such a pile. Rather, as is often recommended, keeping short accounts instead; and lots of hugging.

    Blessings,
    Kathleen

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  3. AMEN! We all should live life like there will be NO tomorrow here on earth. Tomorrow in eternity will be a blessing we can not comprehend.
    Hugs,
    andrea

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  4. Amen, amen. Such powerful, and truthful words sis. I love you.

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  5. Wonderful post. Great reminder that we are just like avapor.
    Thank you for sharing my friend.

    Pray for all of us that we may remain a light shining though.
    God bless you.

    XO Regina

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  6. What a great encouragement! It was the very thing I needed for this moment. :)

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  7. Oh my what a powerful video. Yes, one just does not know when the Lord will call you home. Blessings to you Rosel.

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  8. Wonderful post - and so true. We never know how much time we have. Never pass up an opportunity to tell someone we love them.

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  9. wow--thank you -I was being extremely ungrateful and irritated with my soon to be 13yr old--although she does deserve some wrath-I must not forget!!

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  10. This was a powerful and inspirational post. Yes, we NEED to live as if every day is our last, for who knows if it might be. Thanks for all this. May the Lord continue to bless your ministry to these people and to all of us. Hugs, Debbie

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  11. Hi, Rosel:
    I like posts like this; I like this challenge. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present. The video is so good too. Thanks for making me laugh at my place. Love you, Sister!

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  12. Thanks for the reminder that we need to appreciate each day because it could all be gone tomorrow. I know I'm guilty of getting all caught up in everyday life and taking things/peple for granted. I hope you have a great weekend! We are supposed to have warm weather today and tomorrow (in the 70's!)!

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  13. He was so vulnerable and you took such good care of him. You were his angel. Thank you for sharing.

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  14. Oh, my sweet and precious friend. How inspiring it is for me to come here and be uplifted by God through your words. Your post is so important, especially for this day and age. We never know when our time is up, so you're right... we must live each day to it's fullest praising God and glorifying Him as though it's our last.

    Thank you for writing this important post. You are such a blessing to me. Oh, and most importantly, thank you for every single encouraging word you write Amber. You have NO idea how much I appreciate you. I know you will be as much of a blessing to her as you are to me.

    God bless you, my sweet friend! *huge hugs*

    PS ~ Final thought I'd like to share... after reading this post, I feel uplifted and at peace to the point of joyful tears streaming down my face. For us to be so vulnerable and yet, through Jesus Christ, we are strong! I needed this today. It's been a loooong week, so again, thank you!

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  15. It's great to read about how God can move no matter the situation. He hears our cries, no matter how mundane or trivial we may think they are. I'm glad you have our great Saviour with you when you go to work where things can get dangerous in the blink of an eye.

    Blessings to you dear sister!

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  16. I have no doubt that your presence kept those tormenting demons quiet. God bless that poor man.

    What a stark reminder (your video) of how none of us are promised tomorrow. If we truly lived each day like we would be with Jesus in 24 hours, we would be stopping traffic and causing a scene to tell everyone about Him.

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  17. Amen Rosel! I try to remind myself of the verse when I'm not trusting God like I should. He is the One with the plan. My plans mean nothing unless they are His plans first.

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  18. Praying for you, this night. I always pray for you on weekends...I don't always tell you, but I am constantly thinking about you during the weekends and lifting you before the LORD. You are covered and HIS strength will indeed fill your being!

    Love the song playing...."The Warrior Is A Child" one of my favorites...I heard it for the first time the week my sister was killed 20 plus years ago....I so get this song...I live it!

    Hugs,
    andrea

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  19. I have found that one of the great deterrents to the Christ-centered life is busyness and distractions of life in the moment centered on self, pleasure and materialism. The eternal perspective and the realization of the Gospel, growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and loving our neighbor will open our eyes to true fruit of love, joy and peace as we abide in the light of God's kingdom on Earth. Praise be to God as we live each day for the glory of our Savior.

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  20. Rosel, this is my favorite so far of all your posts. My heart really went out to that poor, suicidal man. Wish I could hold him, and tell him everything's going to be okay.

    And thanks for the reminder to seize the day...I needed to hear that!

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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