It seems like trouble always hits when you least expect it and definitely when you don't need it.  One day everything seems fine and the next you're facing a serious health issue; possibly a life threatening one.  Tim McGraw has a song out called, "Live Like You Were Dyin'". 

The first verse goes like this: "He said I was in my early 40's, with a lot of life before me, and a moment came that stopped me on a dime.  I spent most of the next days, lookin' at the x-rays, talkin' 'bout the options and talkin' 'bout sweet time. Asked him when it sank in, that this might really be the real end. How's it hit ya, when you get that kind of news. Man what ya do?"

Well, I've been there and trust me the first thing you do is develop a serious pucker factor - but what should you do next?  Here are my thoughts on the matter.  Let's deal with two situations:

1) not surviving and 2) surviving. It has been proven time and time again that a positive attitude is the best medicine, but I also know that fear has a tendency to grab you by the throat. Fear is not an enemy unless it controls you - then it becomes your enemy. 

Find out all you can about the condition, talk to folks that have experienced what you're feeling and have "been there".  It helps to learn you're not crazy (it did for me).

Commit to your treatment, recognize that you're not going to die until the good Lord is ready for you, but you'll have to do your part and fight. You may be suffering from a disease or terrible accident but you don't have to become a victim. WANTING to live is the first step in living! 

Stay as active as your condition allows and stay positive.  None of us knows the hour or day of our death, so as long as you are alive - LIVE!

You may be dying.  This might be the real end, so do it with some style and class and some grace. 

Make sure you are right with God; try to make amends for those you have hurt and try to finish the race with your head up and looking forward to the next reward. 

Be a good example and a source of strength for those you are leaving behind.  As it says it this song, "love deeper, speak sweeter, and give forgiveness you've been denying". 

Try to "finally be the husband (or wife), that most the time you weren't, and become a friend a friend would like to have, read the good book".  At the very least, you can leave a good memory for those you leave behind.

Now, what if you survive?  What if you're given a second chance?  I can't say it any better than Tim says it in the song: 

"I spent most of the next days, lookin' at the x-rays, talkin' 'bout the options and talkin' 'bout sweet time.  Asked him when it sank in, that this might really be the real end. How's it hit ya, when you get that kind of news. Man what ya do? 

And he says, I went sky divin', I went rocky mountain climbin', I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fu Manchu. And I loved deeper,  and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I've been denying, and he said someday I hope you get the chance, To live like you were dyin'.

He said I was finally the husband, that most the time I wasn't. And I became a friend a friend would like to have. And all the sudden goin' fishing, Wasn't such an imposition.  And I went three times that year I lost my dad. Well I finally read the Good book, and I took a good long hard look at what I'd do If I could do it all again. 

Like tomorrow was a gift and you've got eternity to think about what you do with it, what could you do with it, what can I do with it, what would I do with it."

I have been sky diving, been rocky mountain climbing; I'm probably going to avoid Fu Manchu, but I'm not sure.  The bottom line is pretty simple to me. Make sure you're right with the Lord, try to be a good example, and try to leave a good memory.

Come to think of it, this song has a pretty good premise and is not a bad way for all of us to live every day.  Be right, do right, speak right, love right, be amazed at what is around us, go fishing and appreciate every day you have and do something good with it.

For my friends that are in this game right now, this article is dedicated to you.  Fight, fight like the dickens, but let your heart stay clean.  For these rest of us (and for my friends going through it) "someday I hope you get the chance, to live like you were dyin'."