A Precious Gift

Life as we know it is filled with surprises. We know that it will not last, yet its ending is shocking. We must not fear death, but instead use it as a reminder that life will not last forever. It should encourage us to perform wonders with the limited time we possess. Death knocks on the door without an invitation, and sweeps life away before you can look it in the eye. I believe that life is the most precious gift and it is precious because there is an end to it.

The first time I was made aware of death’s abrupt nature was when I attended my best friend’s burial. I was in a state of utter disbelief and melancholy; my mind was not attached to reality and I was in a whirlwind of emotions. I stepped out of the car and, with my weak knees, dragged myself to his empty grave. I was surrounded by graves, some were decorated with simple pebbles and carved tombstones while others bore an unadorned font written by a marker. With my head bowed down and my face drenched with tears, I arrived at his grave. The family of the deceased walked towards the grave carrying my friend’s body. As we lowered his body into the grave, we moved on to the most difficult step; we began to shovel the grains of sand into his grave as we said our last goodbyes to a man that will forever live in our hearts. I stood right in front of his grave with flashbacks of us playing, laughing and pulling pranks on our neighbors. Those memories will forever be cherished in my mind and heart.

Another event that will haunt me till my last breath was when I witnessed life being stripped out of an old man on a cold December morning. Ironically, it was a holiday that celebrated the end of the Muslim pilgrimage and honored the memory of God sparing the life of Abraham’s son Ishmael. However, one life was not spared. As I was walking back home, I heard a loud thud behind me. I turned around to find a puddle of blood surrounding a corpse. I was in total shock; I could not believe what my eyes were looking upon. It was a horrendous sight to see. He was my neighbor; an old man with a gentle heart who lost his balance and fell from his own balcony. He was unprepared for his departure, but he had no say in that matter. Death is certain, but its time is not.

There are people, however, who put their limited time to good use, who do not waste a single moment and make it memorable. For example, my relative who graduated from medical school decided to preform eye surgeries for those who cannot afford its expenses. He rejected all the offers from various corporations and private hospitals to travel to a country torn apart by a bloody civil war. The environment was lethal; death lurked around every corner, and he was risking his own life to make other’s lives better. It made him feel better about himself; he was tenacious and had a purpose that satisfied him regardless of the consequences. He did not fear death but embraced the fact that there was such a thing, and that is what motivated him further. He wanted to do so much more than what time allowed him to. Then there are people who do not let death be the end of their ambition. My great uncle passed away when he was quite young. He achieved fame, wealth and power in the region, and was an inspiration to many fellow countrymen. His will demanded that his wealth and possessions be distributed among universities in the country for scholarships. He had an unparalleled vision to see Yemen as an educational hub, and its people as the tutors of generations to come.

Everyone is born with an equal chance for greatness. It solely depends on how the person perceives life. There are people who view death as when someone simply passes, but people do not die when they are hit by a car, or when they fall from a balcony, when they get shot through the heart or when they consume poison. They die when they are forgotten.