As a child my first bedtime prayer was:

“Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

The words “If I should die before I wake” have been very real lately as several of my friends have gone to sleep and not awakened. Why am I seeing so much death? Am I really that old? I don’t seem old. I guess being old is a frame of mind.

When my daughter first started working in the emergency room as a brand-new nurse, she would give us a general outline of her patients. Sometimes she would say that a patient was really old. We would ask her “How old?” She would say, “Well, they were at least 50.” Her point of reference for what was considered old was so much different than our thoughts of what is old.

When friends die that are my age, it really makes me stop to think. Have I accomplished everything in my life that I want to accomplish? More importantly, have I accomplished everything that God wants me to accomplish. If I should die before I wake, will my heavenly Father say, “well done” or “I wish you had done what I designed you to do.” Have I cared for the people who needed a helping hand? Have I encouraged the ones that were depressed and needed to be loved. Have I shared the love of Jesus with those I come in contact with? Did I love on the people who needed to be touched with the love of Jesus? Have I shared Jesus with the people who need salvation? Have I spoken all of the words to tell people that I love them with all of my heart?

If I should die before I wake, there are some things I want you to know. I love you. Read that slowly.

I LOVE you! 

If I should die before I wake, you are special to me. God has given me a love for people. I have found a special place of service in the Women’s Ministry. My small group of ladies keeps growing. I want you to know how much you mean to me. I find our friendship refreshing and encouraging. You are so dear to me. Remember that Jesus loves you and you all are amazing ladies who love the Lord.

If I should die before I wake, remember that I love bible study. God’s Word is amazing. No matter what you need to know, God’s Word addresses it. My favorite verses are Galatians 2:20 and Esther 4:14b. These are my life verses. Galatians 2:20 KJV “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Esther 4:14b “…And who knows but that you have come to this place for such a time as this?”

If I should die before I wake, remember that I love my friends. You have walked through life with me. Some friends are close and others are more like acquaintances, but God has placed you in my life for a reason. Thank you for being there.

If I should die before I wake, remember that I love my family. My husband has been my dear partner through life. At this point, we have been married 47 years. We dated for 3 years before that. I have trouble remembering life without him. Our children are precious to me. As they are now adults, I realize that they are their own persons. I pray that they will always put the Lord first. I love the precious people they married. I prayed for them before I knew who they were. My precious grandchildren are the love of my life. I am so thankful for each one and that they are being shown the love of the Lord. The other relatives that are part of our family are dear to me as well.

If I should die before I wake, remember that I love Jesus. He is Lord of my life. He is the one I turn to when I don’t understand what is going on with the world or with life in general. He died for my sins. He offered me salvation and I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. He died for you, too. Will you accept Him as your Lord? 

If I should die before I wake, I will see you in heaven. You are precious to me. Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for us. All I can say is that I hope your place is close to mine. I will look for you there if you go before me. If I go first, I will be waiting for you.

If I should die before I wake, I will wake up in heaven with Jesus.