27020

December 1, 2024 was day number 27,020 of my life. It is significant because I had a heart attack that evening. About 7:30 Sunday evening, as we left the church building to drive the short distance to home I told Faye, “I have a strange feeling of some modest discomfort in my upper chest and left arm.” After about an hour and a half the discomfort was still there at about the same level. I decided to check my blood pressure thinking maybe that was somehow causing this feeling. My blood pressure was 200/104. Now that is a record for me. I thought, “this is very high and may blow the top of my head off.” Faye and I decided to go to the emergency room to see if they might determine what is happening. They determined the heart enzyme (Troponin) number was very high. Troponin is a protein found in heart muscle cells, and it is released into the bloodstream when these cells are injured. Or, in my terms, “when they are fighting for their life.” I am told 20 is a normal number. My number was 1200. That led to a heart cauterization the next day which determined there was a point of 95% blockage. A stint was placed at that point and the following afternoon I was released to go home. They determined there was some damage to the heart, but believe it will heal to full strength…as long as I get plenty of ice cream.

I am very thankful for the people who cared for me. First, I’m thankful for Faye. She stayed with me until the wee hours of the morning before going home to get some rest. Then she was back for more long hours of vigilance. I am very thankful for her love. 

The hospital staff was very capable and kind. The nurse manager stopped by my room to ask if all is well. I assured him it was. He asked if any particular person stood out in their care and service. I told him I would consider that an eight way tie. Every person in every role was capable, informative, and considerate. Of course most interaction was with the frontline nursing staff. Audra, Savanna, and Melissa were outstanding in their care and thoughtfulness.

Now a little more about the number 27,020. On my 71st birthday I texted to our kids, “it sure didn’t take long to get to age 71. If I turn the numbers around it is age 17. I tried to remember what was important to me at age 17. It certainly didn’t include any thought of being age 71.” Our son Tim replied by saying, “Well it did take 25,932 days for you to become 71 years old. I had to admit that sounds like a long time. If I live until December 9, 2024 I will be 27,028 days old. More commonly expressed as 74 years.

I occasionally use Tim’s idea to wish Happy Birthday to people in terms of the number of days since they were born. This caught on within our family. You can see in the photo below, a recent birthday gift from Charity to Faye. This blanket breaks down the 70^th year birthday to months, days, minutes, and seconds.

I also began to connect this thought of the number of days to Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.This has been a reminder to me of how important it is to apply wisdom to every decision we make as we live each day. I wish I had learned this many years earlier. 

So where do we get wisdom? Wisdom is embodied in Christ. The Bible says of Christ, In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3.

Also, Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. And,Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

The amazing truth of this is as we live our days to the fullest, applying our hearts to wisdom on a daily basis, we are making the greatest investment in eternity. 

We read this truth in the Bible in John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. According to the Bible God’s only begotten Son is The Lord Jesus Christ. If you are reading this and have never believed in the Lord Jesus Christ please use this link to my website ambassadorman.com/what-if to learn more about everlasting life.

All of this is a reminder to me that since I did not arrive in heaven Sunday evening, I am now living the first day of the rest of my life. Through the application of wisdom I want to use my time, and all resources the Lord has provided to me to do the most important thing He has for me to do today. So, it is with great joy that I proceed through THIS day as well as the next “first day of the rest of my life.” The apostle John said it well in 1John 1:3-4 ³That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Think about this… “and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” This fellowship provides great joy as we live our temporary life in this troubled world. Blessings to you!

WEBSITE: www.ambassadorman.com