Amazing, Because It Is [So,] Hold On!

"Life's short,  then you die."

How true that simple little statement.
And how very chilling it is when the true meaning of it sinks into your soul. At a time like this, its honesty is recognized. Normally a phrase intended as a laughable retort, it becomes a sobering truth when coupled with the disastrous outcome of Mother Nature's wrath.

So what of it?

Life is short. And then? And then you die.

117. That's the most recent count of the deceased. One hundred seventeen people. Dead.
1,500. That number? It's the number of people missing.

What a terrible number. That is  so many people. People. It's easy to look at a number. But to realize and understand that they are real people? Ouch. A woman going to the grocery store to grab food for dinner before the storm hits. And then it does. And she dies, her family left at home.

A group of people at a convenience store. Just to grab gas, or a soda. But then united together huddled in a cooler. And when they emerge-safe-but scared? They meet only the death and destruction they narrowly avoided. And even harder than that? They are met with the loss of their friends. Their family.

A mother sends her son to be with his grandparents for the night- she has to work late. But before she can even leave the house for work, she hears the sound of sirens. She emerges from her cellar. Calls are made to grandma... to no avail. A visit. A painstaking long journey merely blocks away... but too many barriers block the way. She abandons the car and runs... to find her mother's house gone. Gone. And her mom and son? Nowhere to be found.

These are real people. With real feelings. With real family. With real heartache. Just because the tornado has came and went, does not mean the pain has left.

Life is short. And then you die.

So cherish it. Is sit necessary to comment on all things that annoy you? Is it necessary to hurt the feelings of another? Is it necessary to be rude?
Would you regret it?

Must you worry incessantly about making enough money, doing enough work, being perfect?
No.

Cherish your life. Cherish other's life. It's too short to let it pass.

We are not invincible. We can be snapped in any moment. Death is not some distant fiend. It does not wait until we are ready. Death hovers above us as we trek through life. He pounces at the worst moments for us. He doesn't wait for us to reach a ripe age. He greedily takes us into the palms of his hands... and captures us, stealing us away from the love of others.

If we are lucky, God plucks us from his filthy hands before he has a chance to devastate us.... but those left behind? They can not be spared. They are left dealing with the loss, while awaiting cruel fate to reach down to gather them at last.

Life's short, then you die.




Amazing grace (you're amazing)
How sweet the sound (you're amazing)
That saved a wretch like me 
I once was lost (it feels so bad when you're lost but I know)
But now I'm found
Was blind but now I see




Hold onto God. He's all we have in these deep and dark times. He loves us and is reaching out to us. He wants to make a personal connection and save us from the evils of death. He's calling out to you. 


"I am all around you and I see
Everywhere you see I am everything
You believe

If the stars dont shine tonight
And tomorrow forgets the light
Hold on. Hold on to Me.

You are loved completely
You mean everything to me
You will always be here with me

With everything you have
Hold on to me.
Don't be afraid I'm here to stay
If your hope is running dry
And your dreams have waved goodbye
Hold on. hold on to Me."