God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. (Gen 1:31)
Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Rev. 22:12-13)
Today is the five-year anniversary of Maggie’s departure to heaven, and in October I will turn 60. Those rounded-number milestones loom extra-large and have my analyzer in a higher gear of overdrive than usual. And, as He never fails to do, God has crystallized the two events into one main lesson He is teaching me. You’re running out of time to ensure you finish well.
I’m not a finisher. Oh, I’m never at a loss for ideas or new things to try. The other day I read a report in Smithsonian of how scientists have come to understand that the brain perceives silence in the same way as noise. I knew this as a child when I said I was going to make an LP album that would play “quiet” to drown out uninvited sounds in my world. In a household of seven, unwanted noise was a constant intruder. But did I follow through with my invention? No.
I later spoke the idea that became Amazon’s Kindle years before it became a thing I and millions of others now use daily. My latest version would perpetually recharge itself (using solar or brainwaves) and would be called the Eternal Flame. Do I receive any royalty checks? No. But I digress.
I don’t finish well. I start out with good intention. Then somewhere along the line I lose interest or the elusive spark I need to complete the task. Incomplete craft projects get stuffed into drawers. Proposed book ideas and unfinished devotionals fill my laptop’s document folder. I’ve realized this tendency to stop short comes from a fear of producing what can’t live up to my own expectations. I’ll never fail if I don’t hang that embroidery in a frame or hit send to submit that book proposal. My house will be fine without another decorative pillow, but what does this tendency say about my spiritual life? Oswald Chambers in the July 31st Utmost
devotional says that the carelessness that leaves things unfinished and not thoughtfully done is the “remains of the carnal life” and an insult to the Holy Spirit. Hmmm. Tough words, don’t you think? What’s to be done? Chambers answers, “Whatever it may be, God will point it out with persistence until we become entirely His.” We know this to be fact because God always works until He sees the finished product and then pronounces it good.
Where does this dovetail with Maggie, you are wondering? I’m getting there. Maggie had a related fear to mine. She didn’t like to see her schoolwork graded. She would finish it, turn it over on my desk, and say, “Don’t grade it now!” Then she would flee the room. It remained a source of anxiety but drifted into the background when she faced her biggest challenge. And her illness cured her, for through it she became, in Chamber’s words, “completely His.” The finish line is important because it marks where we reach our end and His beginning.
So how do we learn to finish well? We look at those who have done it before us and run after them. That’s the message of Hebrews 12:1 and one of those glorious “therefores” in Scripture that force us to look back before reading on. Hebrews 11, the roll call of faith, is full of names that have one thing in common. They finished well. And then we think of others. Paul writing to Timothy with some of his last recorded words before his death says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
For all her fear of grading time and report cards, Maggie never showed a fear of death. She may have internalized it, avoided those thoughts, or simply refused to believe her departure was close. We’re not sure. She wasn’t perfect, but we know she fought a good fight. She didn’t put herself in a position through poor choices to fight a battle against unintended and dark consequences. No, she faced an unexpected enemy in the arms of a Friend. She once shared in her testimony that she had “been learning my whole life about this loving God who promised never to leave you or forsake you.” She fought a good fight because God allowed it then fought it with her.
She finished the race. It wasn’t the length she or I would have chosen, but it was the one placed before her. In the Olympics, the gold medals for first place in the sprints and the marathon are identical. The reward is given for completing the assigned task, not running out the clock or trying to run the wrong race. Failing to finish won’t keep the work from being judged. So, we run to finish and win.
She kept the faith. This is my favorite part. One of those blessings that I would never have asked for yet can’t imagine now not having is the gift of seeing my child’s life start to finish. I held her for both her first and final breath. And the sum total of every breath in between if collected and mixed would rise in praise, not sink in despair. She held onto faith until she exchanged it for perfect sight.
At this very moment, the AC cut off, leaving the house in a rare moment of near silence. It doesn’t matter that I never invented my recording. Most days are quiet enough, thank you. I hear only a soft clatter as my fingers find the words to send in tribute to all who ran the race well and reached the goal. One task finished today. And I’m sending more words later this evening when a long-cherished dream takes its first step out of the prison whose bars were formed by my own expectations. I’ll click send on my first book proposal. I never knew finishing could feel this good.
I’m crying! Thank you…I needed this. I too start many things, but don’t finish. I have been feeling like I am running out of time. I think about Vitaly every day, and even though his life was troubled at times, he finished well.
Congratulations on the book! I can’t wait to read it.
Barbara, I have thought of you so much in your loss. I know he finished well. What a blessing that we both have that to hold until we see them again.
I think your words are so beautiful and powerful. Maybe it’s the beloved subject matter or the longing to finish well also, but the outcome is always the same heart piercing amen. Thanks for starting and sharing and hopefully finishing more and more.
Thank you for the encouragement, friend. I’ll be finishing more in the future as I keep my eyes on the finish line.
Beautiful and inspiring! Yes, Maggie’s
life touched many and from time to time I am reminded of her precious attitude and how she finished life!!
Loving and praying for you and yours this day!
Thank you for you constant support, sweet friend. I know those prayers are always going up. And they strengthen many to finish well.
Thank you for this reminder and so vivid a reminder of finishing well. I hope you, Phil, and Molly are cherishing memories together today of your sweet Maggie. You are loved!
Thank you! We are cherishing memories and looking forward to seeing her again.
Maggie crossed my mind this week and I only knew her from your posts. Wonderful, wise words as always. Looking forward to your book.
Thank you for your thoughts of her and kind, encouraging words!
Melissa, this is so beautiful!! We think about Maggie all the time!! She was such a precious picture of who and what God calls us to be! Always mindful of living in a Christlike manner and not being shy about Who her hope was in and where her hope was found!! She kept the faith and finished the race so well!! The impact she had on all of us carries on!! I love that pic of Maggie and Abby!! I find myself getting sad sometimes that Abby did not have Maggie for her whole life but then I think what a blessing to have a friend like Maggie period! I’m so excited about your book! Keep us posted on how we can get it! Thank you for this beautiful reminder we all can ponder!!! Love you sweet friend!! Our thoughts and prayers on this anniversary! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for your sweet message and kind words. Abby was so special to Maggie. I’m glad she was there for the special moment captured by the photo. We love your precious family and appreciate the encouragement.
Such a beautiful tribute to Maggie and encouragement for us all to strive to finish well. Like you, I have had anxious thoughts about time running out to complete or do things God was urging me to do. This recent cancer challenge has certainly intensified those concerns. But God is faithful, and I will keep moving forward. I have no doubt that you and your beautiful family will finish well. You are an inspiration. Thank you, and good luck with your book proposal and congrats for finishing and submitting it!
Thank you for the encouragement. I know your thoughts turn anxious, but I’m thankful you know where to take them when they do. It is a difficult road – as much mentally and spiritually as physically. I pray God continues to meet your every need. We would never choose the circumstances to learn truths we can share with others through writing, but I’m hopeful we can both be faithful in sharing.
I held her for her first breath and her last!😭 Not many parents can say that and would really ever choose to say it! That got me and I cannot imagine being in that position as I’ve told you so often! Only a mother would use that analogy and it just pierces my heart! She did finish strong…very, very strong. She is an example to us all on keeping the faith! I’ll certainly be happy to see her again! 😻😘🥰 And I know I will!
Love you and thank you for keeping Maggie close in your thoughts.
Once again, your words are penned as His skillful writer, Melissa! May His Comfort continue to surround you on the five year anniversary of your precious Maggie’s passage to Heaven’s glory! Five-the number of His great grace!
What GLORIOUS news to hear of your book submission!! I KNEW IT! The baby is here!! Maggie, Lori, and so many others in those Heavenly grandstands are up there cheering you on to your glorious finish!! What a treasure you are! This is just the beginning of your long awaited dream of published works! This is fulfillment time! I would say you are a GREAT finisher! Love you, Mighty Woman of God!
Marlene, thank you for your generous encouragement. I love the image of those heavenly grandstands full of so many I love – Maggie and Lori chief among them.
Thank you so much Melissa.
Thank you for taking the time to read. I hope you always find encouragement here!