24 Hours without God by Mary May Larmoyeux |
| "I can't imagine living without God," my good friend Kathy said as we prepared to order lunch at Applebee's. Sitting across from her at a table, I nodded. My fingertips traced the possible entrees on the menu ... grilled chicken salad ... pasta ... shrimp. "There it is, Firepit Bacon Burger." "Well ," Kathy continued, "If someone asked me to exchange one day with God for a million dollars, I wouldn't take it." My head turned towards my friend. She had my attention. Trade only one day with God for a million dollars, I wondered, just 24 hours? Surely I could make it for one day on my own. Why, with a million dollars Jim and I could pay off all of our debt. We could give a fortune to charity, help loved ones, and still have tens of thousands of dollars left over. Kathy's and my conversation at Applebee's was more than two months ago. I can't remember what she ordered that day or what she wore. I've forgotten most of our conversations. But I vividly recall her comment about not exchanging one day with God for a million dollars. God's brought it to my mind time and time again. Just One Day in a person's entire life Twenty-four hours ... just one day. Out of countless days ... what impact could just 24 hours have on a person's life? Let's look at some real life examples. After refusing to run the 100 meter race on a Sunday in the 1924 Olympics, Eric Liddell ran the 400 meter event the following Friday. He surprised the world that day when he received a gold medal and set a world record. It is said that he was given a slip of paper before his 400 meter race with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30, “Those who honor me I will honor.” And what about the passengers on US Airways Flight 1549? As they prepared on January 14, 2009, to board their flight the following day in New York City, they anticipated landing in Charlotte, North Carolina. Instead, they made a crash landing in the Hudson River. Jeff Kolodjay said fellow passengers were praying as the plane went down. All 155 people onboard were saved from death. "We've had a miracle on 34th Street,” Gov. David Paterson said. “Now I believe we've had a miracle on the Hudson.” Sherri Pinkerton knows a thing or two about miracles. When Sherri and her two-year-old daughter, Gracie, got on a children's ride near Daytona Beach, Florida, she had no idea of the consequences of that decision. The "Crazy Bus," which rotates like a small Ferris wheel, began to move as passengers tried to exit, and Sherri was left dangling by one arm while holding Gracie in the other. Sherri dropped Gracie who was caught by fairgoers. Twelve-year-old Chris Whitaker was not as fortunate as Gracie. After dousing himself with gasoline and lighting it with a match, what he and his friend thought would be a stunt turned into an inferno. Chris says that his friend started "praying, telling me ... that God is on my side." Yes, a lot can happen in 24 hours. The stakes I agree with Kathy. I can't imagine living even one day without the presence of God. The stakes are too high; the choices too wide; the consequences too deep. One day ... one decision ... one moment can change the course of a life. "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths." —Psalm 25:4 |
Mary is the author of Help for Busy Moms: Purposeful Living to
Simplify Life and the co-author of The Resurrection Eggs®
Activity Book. She and her husband, Jim, live in Little Rock,
Arkansas, and have two married sons and five grandchildren.
You can contact her at mary@marymaywrites.com.
Simplify Life and the co-author of The Resurrection Eggs®
Activity Book. She and her husband, Jim, live in Little Rock,
Arkansas, and have two married sons and five grandchildren.
You can contact her at mary@marymaywrites.com.
Copyright © 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
