Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Life Is A Gift

I was reading an article about Euthanasia and mercy killings, and the negative impact of making it legal for doctors to assist in suicides. As someone that is terminally ill, I can imagine the fear of being admitted to a hospital with doctors who participate in ending lives. Many people think assisting terminally ill patients to die is an act of compassion. It isn't an act of compassion, it's an act they can't come back from. In the Lord's eye, the doctor would be a murderer and the patient would be committing a sin they can't ask to forgive. If people want to show compassion, they should talk them back from the ledge. Suicide, whether they are a moody 16 year old or a terminally ill adult, it isn't the answer. They need the help and support to overcome the difficulties in their lives.
Years ago, I woke up in a hospital with most of my mobility gone. At first, I wished I never woke up from surgery. I slowly got past that, but it was a long time before I fully appreciated being alive and given the gift of a second chance. I have a family and a savior who transformed my life, making me see things in a different light, a better light. I can't imagine what my life would be without my faith and where I would be. It isn't something I even want to think about.

When I think of the people who have committed suicide, I want to shout to the world that life is a gift, and not something to be taken lightly. There are those who will deceive us into taking our lives for granted. Deception is Satan's favorite tool, and he will use it to make your life miserable. But, there is protection and His name is Jesus Christ. Having the Lord in my life has given me the peace to be happy with my life. God does not give anyone more than they can handle. He knows our true potential more than we know our own. Every life includes trials that test us, they shape us into who we are. To give up on those trials is to deny ourselves the chance to become who we are meant to be. God has a plan for us. It might not make sense now, but it will. Take it from someone who knows, the road is much smoother with the Lord beside you.