Monday, March 20, 2017

If Tomorrow Never Comes


Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?
You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14

The words of the country song emanating from my iPad as I stepped out of the shower precipitated a torrent of tears. “If tomorrow never comes, will she know how much I loved her?” Garth Brooks pegged it with that one. The lyrics reminded me of a loved one’s recent medical diagnosis.

When you stop to think about it, the promise of tomorrow belongs to no one. We will all die.

Last night’s news featured a story of the tragic death of a high school freshman in a car accident. My father was struck by lightning while fly fishing under a clear, blue sky. We don’t know what a given day will bring.

As Christians, we should consider this question on a regular basis. If tomorrow never comes for me, for you, for anyone close to us, have we done the two most important things? Have we made certain they know the Lord Jesus Christ? Do they know how much we love them? We must not allow differences to divide us because we never know when a conversation will be our last.

Right before the 2008 presidential election, my mother and I became embroiled in a heated political argument with a close family member who had cancer. Before we could set matters to rest and convince him that our love for each other was the most important thing, he died. It haunts us to this day.



It has become “the thing” in our world to stick with our “right to disagree” to the point that the nightly news is full of antagonism of the ugliest sort, one group pitted against another because of politics, race, social standing, financial status, or philosophy. Hate has become the “in thing” in our world today.

What divides you from those you love? Religion? Politics? Family matters? Money? It is so easy to allow differences to taint relationships between ourselves and our loved ones. It is much more difficult to be the one to step forward and try to settle a disagreement.

If tomorrow never comes, have you asked forgiveness? Even if you feel you’re in the right. Simply because you offended someone you love. 

Make a point of trying to set things right with loved ones as soon as the incident occurs. We never know if tomorrow will afford us the opportunity.


© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, January 19, 2017

About the author:
Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.
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8 comments:

  1. Norma, your words are so true and so relevant. After this devisive election, I'm sure that there are still people at odds with their family and friends and the current issues in our government have continued to deepen these resentments. I pray that they can settle their differences.

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    1. Thank you, Connie! I think it's always timely to think about our words and relationships.

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  2. So much truth in what you just shared. We aren't promised tomorrow.

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    1. Thank you, Ann! We do need to always bear that in mind.

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  3. Norma, thank you for a warning well-worth reading and heeding. My dad also died unexpectedly. Thankfully, we had a history of hugs rather than slights; however, I do wish I had called him more often. When I see him in Heaven, we won't be talking about missed calls. :)
    Blessings ~ Wendy

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    1. I think of all the times I drove past my dad's office and told myself he was busy and I was in a hurry. He would have been happy if I just stuck my head in and said hello. We also had a "history of hugs". All is well.

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  4. Norma, beautiful words to remind us to life is a vapor. As I was reading this beautiful devotional the song "I Don't Know About Tomorrow" came to mind. I may not know what tomorrow will bring but so thankful I know Who is holding my hand. Thank you Jesus. God bless.

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    1. I love that song, Marilyn! What a wonderful reminder that God knows our tomorrows. I think of Psalm 90:12 - "Teach us to number our days aright."

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