So...I don't usually talk about this kind of stuff in my blog....But it all ties in with what I want to get across, trust me. :)  My dad has a really rare type of cancer, and I have some of the symptoms, as well as high serotonin levels (an indicator that there could be tiny tumors).  Lately, probably as stress has increased these days (with the move coming up, etc.), the symptoms have gotten worse, and I've been worried...anxious, you might say.  I also just heard of a 40-something year old lady who died of this same cancer and left 2 children, one who was just a toddler, behind.  The cancer killed her in 1 year and started in her reproductive organs.  That story, the fact that I have such young children, and my symptoms--all together have me scared.

I'm only 28, and though statistically, I probably won't end up dying just yet from all of this, the fact of the matter is, we just never know--because we aren't the creative and omnipotent God.  His plans don't necessarily fit into a perfect little chart of statistics.  He knows--and even though I love life here with my family, knowing that He knows when that life will end and that I will be with Him when it does is comforting. 

I know the Bible says we aren't to be anxious.  I need to place it all on Him and just trust--I know that.  And yet, sometimes I think there is an amount of fear and anxiety that is healthy.  It kicks us into the mindset that He's in control and we're not.  It reminds us what is important in life.  The what if thoughts can get us thinking about how we'd spend our time if we knew we didn't have much left.  And ultimately, it draws us back to Him.  When we get there--to heaven, that is, do we want Him to be a stranger to us?  Or do we want to know Him well??

So that's where my thoughts are these days.  I've heard 2 stories, recently, of people dying young of some rare condition and leaving behind a family, including young children.  Those stories, my symptoms, and a healthy dose of fear, have me feeling like I need to keep my life focused on what's important.  With that, I guess, I challenge you, too--think about what's important.  Think about what's not.  What do you do in a day that would not make any difference in the world if you were gone tomorrow?  My guess is that it would be the selfish things--the things that benefit nobody but ourselves--the things we do because we want more knowledge, or more money, or more beauty, or more things....Let's make sure our lives are in focus, ladies, ok?  Starting first with our God who has it all in His hands.  :)