Robert & Kay Camenisch encouraging and equipping relationships

You Never Know What a Day Will Bring

I had a phone call from a friend on Sunday. As we talked, she mentioned the death of her husband, saying, “But I think he was mad at me when he died.”

His death was close to ten years ago, but their unsettled relationship still haunts her.

Within twenty-four hours of our conversation, a killer tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma and reporters on TV spoke of the search for survivors. With the recent events in Boston and the above conversation on my mind, I thought about the fact that we never know what a day will bring.

As families in Moore searched for loved ones, I keep wondering how many regreted cross words that were spoken that morning before they left the house. How many wish they’d been more loving?

We plan to live to see tomorrow–and to see our loved ones at the end of the day. We don’t normally make contingency plans in case one of us doesn’t make it.

In times of crisis and uncertainty, if a relationship with a loved one is askew, dealing with sudden disaster is more difficult. Furthermore, if that loved one doesn’t make it, the grief is more intense and prolonged.

We often take our closest relationships for granted. When strife arises, it’s easy to put off making things right because they always seem to eventually come around.

But, nobody wants to live with regrets for years. Would we do differently if we knew we wouldn’t have another chance to clear the relationship with that person? What if we knew today were the last day we could ask—or give—forgiveness?

If we were aware that today would be our last, I believe we’d pursue peace and harmony with everybody (Heb. 12:13), but especially with those who are close to us.

Meanwhile, if we remain at peace, live in harmony with others, and are given more days, think how much more enjoyable those days will be!

We don’t know what today will bring, much less tomorrow. But, by the choices we make, we can influence what the day will be like. It’s worth the effort to be quick to forgive and quick to settle differences so we can enjoy every day with those we love.

Do you ever think about “What if something happened today that would prevent us from making things right?” What do you do to maintain harmony in the home at all times?

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