By Brenda Cannon Henley
An age old question that has provoked generations is, “How long will I live?” The Bible teaches us that only God knows. We do not and I think that is a good thing. We have references to three score and ten years in Scripture, but we also know that many are now living past that time frame. According to studies done on aging, with the improvement of medicine, housing, and food, people are living longer and longer.

We have had an interesting phenomenal occurrence in our family and I have not met anyone else that has experienced the exact circumstance. My brother just seven years younger than myself died on August 12, 2016, from complications of cancer. My other brother, ten years younger than me, died on the exact same day, August 12, 2015. No one could believe it at first. I was on vacation in Panama City Beach, FL, when I received the call that my younger brother had been placed in hospice care. We all knew that he had been ill for several years, but still, we were surprised to learn that his health had deteriorated so much in the past few weeks. I offered to come home immediately, but his dear wife said very considerately that it wasn’t necessary. She said he would likely not know me and that he could linger for several days. He was receiving comfort care and I was to be home in three days.

On Friday, August 12, I received a call from my sister saying that he had died peacefully, but on the exact same day as our biological brother one year earlier. I lost my husband, Ted, in August of 2014, my brother, John, in 2015, and my brother, James, in 2016. My mother also died in August. During the days before the visitation, funeral, and burial, we often talked about the unusualness of both boys dying on the same day. My sister, whose heart was broken, in an effort to lighten the mood, said, “Brenda, I don’t know about you, but next year on August 12th, I am going to be in some church on my knees praying.” She meant nothing irreverent with her comment. She was just trying to make us laugh.

Truthfully, none of us know when God will call for us to come home. The trick is to be sure we are ready whenever it happens. I don’t want to leave my children, grandchildren, and friends of a lifetime, but when it should happen, I am ready. I don’t fear death at all and I’ve seen my share. I do fear being ill for a long period of time and having to be cared for by others. If I had my way, and I don’t, of course, I would be sitting on the dock of the bay fishing, or watching the sea birds, or I would be out in the boat in deep water, or actually swimming and playing in the water when God says, “It’s time.” These are my happy places on earth and I think a good place from which to leave.

My assurance comes from the fact that I heard the Gospel message when I was 16-years-old, I went forward in a camp service, had a dedicated counselor teach me the Word of God, answer my questions, and lead me in prayer, where I asked God to forgive me of my sins, and I trusted Christ the best way I knew how. I haven’t always lived like a Christian should, I have not always made the best decisions, treated others fairly, and showed Jesus clearly through my life, but I have never feared dying alone since that night at camp at Toccoa Falls, GA., when I gave my life to Christ.

Experts tells us that an average person will live a little more than 27,000 days by today’s evaluations, and that females will likely live longer than males. In the United States, the average life expectancy for women is 80.8 years and for men 75.6 years. In Japan, women are expected to live an average of 86.1 years, while men are given 79.0 years. In France, women are given 84.1 while men are given 77.1 years. Statistics vary on this subject, but one of the better-known studies say the oldest documented person is 122 years old. Several are registered at 119, 115, and 110. I did read of one man that is purportedly 122 years old and a woman who recently died at 132 years.

However long God gives us to live here on earth, let’s agree together to make the time count for good for ourselves and for others.
[1-9-2017]

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788, or
[email protected]