No, this isn’t my final journal entry, Lord willing.

I’ve had a fever for 4 weeks now along with some other disturbing symptoms. When I look up these symptoms to see what might be going on with me, it looks like it could be something serious – but treatable. It is amazing how the thought of one’s mortality quickly prioritizes things in one’s life.

I’m in the middle of writing a journal entry about the Oswald Chambers devotional for August 10. Not only do I type slowly but I often have some trouble thinking clearly enough to organize my thoughts in a meaningful way. Also, when something else comes to my mind to write about I have to take an interruption from writing the one post in order to write another. That is what happened this morning.

There are certain things that I really want to pass on to my children. It gives me joy when I observe that something successfully transferred.  Just this morning I heard one of my children attempt to instruct one of my other children, “measure twice, cut once.” It is a small victory and I am very thankful for it.

Other, more important things need to be conveyed and taught to my children. Every time I think that I am close to death, (this has happened several times in my life), my thoughts seem to center on things like, “Do my children know that I’m proud of them?, Did I tell them recently that I love them?, I need to tell my children again that I love them and I’m proud of them.”  This is odd to me because I am confident that my children know that I am proud of them and that I love them. But that is my concern at that time.

…No one ever said on their deathbed, “Gee, I wish that I had spent more time at work.” I think that any dying man’s thoughts would turn towards family. Too bad most people wait until then to think seriously about it.

Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.”  In other words, a funeral is better than a party because since the funeral causes a person to consider their life – we are all going to die.

So what do I think is important enough to tell my children on my deathbed? (As far as I know, I’m not dying at the moment!)

Of course the most important things that I want to say are that I love them and I’m proud of them. But there are some more specific things that I really want to get across. These are not in a particular order.

1. Respect your mother. (She gave birth to you.) Your life will be blessed when you honor your mother and father. Take care of her. I think that as a boy respects and honors his mother his future marriage will be a success.

2. Strive to exercise the faith that God gives you. God is always faithful and will honor you when you exercise faith correctly.

3. Build healthy relationships – first of all with God, of course, then with your parents and with your spouse.

It can be difficult to build a relationship with your parents when you become an adult. But if it is possible to develop an adult relationship with your parents, then I think that every child should try to do so.

Regarding your spouse, this is the most important relationship that you will ever have in this world other than your relationship with God. Treat it with serious and gentle concern. Handle it with prayer. “Husbands, love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.”  That verse says it so very well. Study it. Memorize it. Apply it constantly.

Regarding your relationship with God, I know that once one is born-again they can never loose their salvation. (I’ll write about this another time.) But just like one can damage their relationship with their spouse, one can mess up their relationship with God. He will never leave or forsake you, but you can sure feel lost due to your own neglect. Pray every day, preferably both morning and night and throughout the day. Things will go well. Otherwise things will not go well and you will wonder why until you realize that you are far from God. Repent.  Get close to God and He will be close to you.

I’m sure that there are more things that I want to say. That’s part of the reason I’m writing my journal online. I want my children to read it someday. I hope that others read it and are encouraged by it, too.