In her book, Jesus, Life Coach, Laurie Beth Jones tells of a married couple that received the devastating news that the wife had cancer and only a few months to live. Knowing her time was brief, she began to live with clarity and uncommon passion.

As her time drew near, her husband mustered the courage to ask her, “Honey, how do you live everyday knowing that you are dying?” She propped up on one elbow and said, “How do you live everyday pretending that you’re not?”

“Teach us how short our life is, so that we may become wise” (Psalms 90:12, Today’s English Version).