“WE CAN’T TAKE TODAY FOR GRANTED”

The title comes from a statement made by Patty LaBell while appearing on The Early Show on CBS.  She was ask about the death on Bob Hope earlier that week.  As she spoke about Mr. Hope she also mentioned several other well know entertainers who also died in recent months and said, “We can’t take today for granted.”  She spoke, I believe, about the need to appreciate others while they are with us for the time is coming when they will be gone.  Although she spoke of entertainers, she spoke as a colleague and friend.

With the passing of Bob Hope, we are reminded of another lesson from death.  Bill Cosby wrote a book entitled Cosbyology containing some of his observations about life from his life.  In his chapter “The Lone Ranger” comes the following: ”MOST OF YOU ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH to understand the tremendous blow many people my age suffered by the recent passing of Clayton Moore.  The Lone Ranger.  He was one of my heroes.  Every time one of these people –Dizzy Gillespie, Mile Davis, Clayton Moore–when they die, that means I am going to die. There is no doubt about it.  I am going to die” (page 171).

Today should not be taken for granted.  Friends and colleagues may not be here tomorrow.  Brothers and sisters in Christ may leave us for their reward.  Or we, you or me, may no longer be privileged walk among humanity.  So do not take the day for granted.  Speak with others in ways that will uplift, edify, encourage.  Heed Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:29-32, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.   And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.   Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

Thank people for the little things that make life better.  Look for opportunities to serve our Lord today, for, as the song reminds us, “tomorrow may be too late.”  If there are problems between you and another, try to resolve the matter.

Patty LaBell is right “we can’t take today for granted.”

—Denny