Why Me, Lord?

            Why Me, Lord?

Eileen Renders

   It is often the “Whys” that we encounter in life that seem to have no understanding or resolution. A young child dies unexpectedly, and without an immediately identifiable reason, we ask, “Why?”  A husband and wife with a loving marriage and three young children lose their mother in a car accident caused by a drunken driver, and we ask, “Why?” These things occur in our lives, and can completely change one’s life forever. When we ask the question; “Why” whom are we requesting answers from? Are we asking God to answer us, to explain this sad happening, and why He allowed it to happen?

   Our Creator does not plan our lives for us, neither does He make any choices or decisions for any of us, we have been given free will. I believe most of us would say how regretful these incidents are, and how much one’s life had been cut short at a young age. Especially, when we see many of the elderly living up to 90 years of age, dependent upon others to help them through the day.

  Reaching old age, and having a long life is said to be a blessing, and rightfully so. This is because those people have had a much longer time to get to know God, understand more about what He wants from us, and to grow in our love for Him through trust and service.

   None of us are assured that we will have time to live out our plans and our dreams. My oldest brother and I recognized the sadness when a vital young person passed, and were still so needed by their family. While he and I were seniors and lived a lifetime, we were still here on earth. We did not understand
why” we were still around, there are no explanations. With each passing year, we would joke to one another about how old we were getting and would say; “If anything happens to me to put me down and cause my death, Johnny would say; “Why me, God, why me?” This, of course, would cause a loud burst of laughter as

We both realized God had given us sufficient time to be grateful and to trust in Him.  Johnny left us 3-years ago, and he showed no fear knowing that God had been kind to him.

   Johnny showed courage, his wife sat by his bedside saying “Johnny, I don’t want you to go.” Johnny replied; “It is not up to you.” Johnny prayed with his brothers at his bedside and remained lucid. He spoke with a clear mind and told his wife he had seen a big gold chariot coming to collect him. And he gently left this world. I miss him so. He was very faithful in prayer to the Blessed Mother and had a great sense of humor.

   We are, therefore, all reminded that we have only one day at a time, life here on earth is terminal for all of us. It would, therefore, be wise not to allow one day to pass without spending time in prayer, meditation, or conversation with our Creator (He does hear every word) and knowing that He loves us and wants us to be with Him. We, in turn, are asked by God to refrain from sin and remain in the state of grace through the Sacraments.