5 BIGGEST REGRETS PEOPLE HAVE BEFORE THEY DIE!

AK Kipkip writes,

Content Credit: Bronnie Ware - Author:

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying – A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing.
"For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.
People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again.

Here are the most common five:
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.
Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness."
My reply,
Thank you for sharing.
More grace to you.
God bless you.

Nani anastahili kuwa mwana wa Mungu?

Bwana Yesu asifiwe!
Ndugu zangu wapendwa katika Kristo, swali hili ni gumu sana kulijibu kwa kutumia uzoefu. Njia rahisi ya kupata jawabu sahihi ni kwa kurejea katika misingi inayotupatia sifa za kuwa wana wa Mungu. Tuanze kwa kuangalia Biblia inasemaje katika kitabu cha Yohana 1:12 inasema
"Bali wote waliompokea aliwapa uwezo wa kufanyika watoto wa Mungu, ndio wale waliaminio jina lake" mstari wa 13 unaongezea kusema "waliozaliwa, si kwa damu, wala si kwa mapenzi ya mwili, wala si kwa mapenzi ya mtu, bali kwa Mungu".

Kwa hiyo katika kifungu hicho cha biblia tumeona mojawapo ya sifa anazostahili mtu ili kuwa mwana wa Mungu, ya kuwa ni lazima umpokee Yesu Kristo kuwa Bwana na Mwokozi wa Maisha yako ndipo utafanyika kuwa mwana wa Mungu. Kufanyika huku sio kwa kuzaliwa na wala si kwa mapenzi ya mtu bali Mungu Mwenyewe. Ni kwa wewe kuamini na kukiri ya kuwa Yesu ni Mwokozi wa maisha yako.

Vilevile katika kitabu cha Warumi sura ya nane mlango wa kumi na nne (Warumi 8:14) tunasoma "Kwa kuwa wote wanaoongozwa na Roho wa Mungu, hao ndio wana wa Mungu"
Kwahiyo, ukishampokea Yesu Kristo kuwa Bwana na Mwokozi wa maisha yako yeye huingia ndani yako na kukaa nawe, kama asemavyo katika Ufunuo 3:20 ya kwamba " Tazama, nasimama mlangoni, nabisha; mtu akiisikia sauti yangu, na kuufungua mlango, nitaingia kwake, nami nitakula pamoja naye, na yeye pamoja nami. Huyo ndiye Roho aliyekuja baada yake kama Yesu alivyosema katika kitabu cha Yohana 16:13-14 Lakini yeye atakapokuja, huyo Roho wa kweli, atawaongoza awatie kwenye kweli yote. Huyu Roho ndiye aongozaye wana wa Mungu.
Ndugu mpendwa, mpaka sasa nafikiri utakuwa umepata walau taswira ya nani ni mwana wa Mungu. Kupitia ufahamu huo  ulioupata ni matumaini yangu kuwa umeijua nafasi yako kwa Mungu. Kwa Jina la Yesu Kristo nakuomba uchukue uamuzi sahihi wa kumtafuta Mungu ili ufanyike kuwa Mwana.
Mungu na akufanikishe.
AMINA