In my younger years, when I was fit and healthy, I used to think how wonderful it would be to live to 100. My mother had lived to be 93, her mother had lived to be 86, so seven years longer, and I thought ok, I might live another 7 years and make 100!
Well, as I said, that was when I was fit and healthy. Pre ataxia. Pre blocks of fatigue, and becoming physically high maintenance. Probably the most annoying thing is that even with physical disability my intellect is normal (I won’t say unaffected) and some days I wonder what on earth happened? Why is my body old when I’m not?
This particular condition I have is pretty rare. About one in 100000 has it, general population wise, but because it’s genetic, several members of the one family may have it. There are, last I heard, around 50 different variations, depending on which gene is affected, and the symptoms are a little different. Some are late onset (as mine is), some affect children, some are terminal (mine isn’t).
I was reading in my facebook ataxia support group yesterday about some of the difficulties faced by others, and how they cope with it. I was quite horrified at the indignity suffered by some, and heartened by the courage and fortitude with which they faced their problems. We ALL know we are not going to get better. We ALL know we will degenerate.
Hence I’m thinking what’s the point of a long life unless that life has quality? Do we as Christians live for ourselves? Or are our lives lived to give God the glory, whether we are well or not? Are we living to show the power and love of God? Or our own cleverness at not getting sick…or living a long life. Are we trying to live long and prosper, or live in the power of the Spirit?
Christians should not be concerned about the length of the life they live. Jesus said in many many places in the NT, “do not fear”. About anything. God knows the hairs of our heads, (Luke 12:7) He knows the length of our lives. (Psalm 139:16) He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7) and about us. (Zeph 3:17)
Of course we should take care of ourselves. It’s only common sense to eat healthy food, and maintain healthy habits. We are, after all, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and to look after ourselves honours Him. (1 Cor 6:19-20)
But it is not up to us how long we live. Neither is it really up to us, ultimately, whether we will have a pain free healthy life. But if we really want to honour our Lord, whatever sort of life we are having, we will live it joyously, and give Him all glory. We will use every opportunity to be His hands and feet, to show the Christ light to all we meet. Thus our lives will have quality. The quantity is really unimportant in the end.
Live your life with and for the Lord!
Light of Christ 