live well, die finished

i don't know exactly who quoted that, but i know it's one of yewleung's favorite quotes. and i never really gave much thought to it.

uncle keong passed away just recently at the age of 72 years old.
i didn't really know him closely probably cause of language barriers.

in loving memory of

uncle keong ♥

his last birthday

but at his funeral wake, something really struck me about him. he was a really very caring man. a man with a big heart and who showed it in his actions.

one by one people came out and shared a thing or two about him, as they said their last words about him.

"...uncle keong was a really very caring man. i remember his hospital visits when my mother-in-law was admitted..."

"...uncle keong was a man who really cared. and who puts me to shame. he visited my mother when she was in the hospital almost everyday. and how did he come? he took the LRT. that really says something about going the distance..."

"...uncle keong even after twenty over years still remembered me and called me up to visit...he really cared..."

"...my papa left a legacy..."

one common thing - a very caring man.

and it was just so so beautiful. :)
i'm glad that he's saved and that he's in heaven now. and one day, i'll meet him there.

and it got me thinking.

when i die, what would i have left behind that the people around me would remember? what would they say at my funeral?

and i thought about my current situations. oh, the dilemmas with my studies and how it is sometimes just so downright discouraging. STPM! *jeng jeng jeng* about my unclear future, what am i going to do? (well, due to trials, my worries were mostly about stpm...)

and then it struck me, no ones going to say "waiyan got __A's or __B's or failed in her STPM" at my funeral. it wouldn't be relevant, it wouldn't really mean anything. and it's definitely not what i want them to talk about during my memorial service.

i'm not saying that studies and STPM and all that kind of stuff is not important, it is. it's just not the MOST important thing in the world, if you think about it :)

live well, die finished

to live well, is to live life to the fullest. impacting the lives of the people around us, bringing God's love through our own lives. not wasting life away or hoarding up treasures or living for my own selfish ambitions. but to live life well, live life knowing my purpose. to be a witness for Jesus.

to die finished, is to know that i've given all i can give, given my best. that my talents and abilities are used to their fullest according to how God wants me to use them. because i cannot take anything with me to heaven. because when i die; the money i've earned, the stuff i've bought, properties, career, achievements, family, etc. all these things i cannot bring along to heaven. and so i shall give all i have and die empty at the end of the day. because what matters is the treasures stored in heaven and the legacy left behind. the lives touched and impacted by mine.

i want to live well and die finished.

cause i know that that's what God wants :)

dear Lord,

thank You Lord for every thing You've done in my life, every blessing, every gift, every person you've brought into my life. teach me to live well for You, using what You've blessed me with to bless others. i commit my life to You, my studies, my exams, my future, my needs, everything. and i trust in You. life means so much more because of You and life is worth living because of what You've done.

And because He lives

I can face tomorrow

because He lives

all fear is gone

and because i know

i know He holds the future

and life is worth the living

just because He lives

thank You, Lord. :)

and and and i can't believe i made it through one week of trials already :) thank You, Lord!

edit: "live well, die empty" was quoted by Pastor Andy Yeoh :)