Recently a friend sent me an email emphasizing the importance of the eternal over the temporary and how he was made to realize that after a bout with prostate cancer 14 years ago. I couldn't agree more. An amended form of my reply is as follows and I though it might be worth sharing.

"When I had my last of three open heart surgeries, I told everyone who came to pray with/for me to please pray but not to ask for my recovery. This was one time I could honestly say with Paul that to depart and be with the Lord would be my desire; but, if He found it better for me to remain for the sake of others, then I was ready for either option. I did not pray thus because I thought I deserved to go to Heaven…but because I believed in the One who promised to take me there. Obviously He thinks I’m still needed here, so, in spite of my failures, I'm still doing my best not to disappoint Him."