Suddenly It Was the Last Day of My Life

Michael J. Waggoner

Description

Following his unexpected death, a man is guided by his guardian angel through the afterlife, where he meets Jesus and learns more about his loved ones, faith, and God’s divine plan for good.
When he woke one frosty fall morning, death was the last thing on Johnny Donaldson’s mind. He was too busy being pulled in all directions by life. His kids were often at odds with each other, and he and his wife seemed to be continuously just trying to hold everything together. Good days were few and far between.
He didn't expect death to come when it did. He wasn’t prepared for it, but it came anyway. He soon found himself in a world out of his control, a world he had never imagined during his earthly life. A journey of discovery about himself and his Creator follows as he learns what happens after death.
He is guided through the afterlife by his guardian angel, where he meets Jesus and witnesses a review of his life. He is shown scenes about his interactions with others, and he comes to better understand how his words and actions affected both them and him during his life. This aids him on his journey toward discovering who he really is. Ultimately he sees that everything God does has a beautiful purpose, even those things he couldn’t understand when he was alive.

Sujets

• afterlife
• Christian
• Fiction
• Fantasy

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 31 mars 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664295131
• Langue: English

Extrait

SUDDENLY IT WAS THE LAST DAY OF MY LIFE
 
 
I THOUGHT I HAD MORE TIME
 
 
MICHAEL J. WAGGONER
 
 
 

 
Copyright © 2023 Michael J. Waggoner.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9514-8 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9515-5 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9513-1 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023904716
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 03/29/2023
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1The End
Chapter 2The Transition
Chapter 3Ministering Spirits
Chapter 4The Decision
Chapter 5The Journey
Chapter 6The Meeting
Chapter 7Pride
Chapter 8Sorrow
Chapter 9Patience
Chapter 10Doubt
Chapter 11Envy
Chapter 12Goodness
Chapter 13Gluttony
Chapter 14Reflection
Chapter 15Wrath
Chapter 16Innocence
Chapter 17Humility
Chapter 18Ambivalence
Chapter 19Lust
Chapter 20Sloth
Chapter 21Despair
Chapter 22Courage
Chapter 23Kindness
Chapter 24Belief
Chapter 25Fidelity
Chapter 26Unbelief
Chapter 27Greed
Chapter 28Defeat
Chapter 29Unfairness
Chapter 30Love
Chapter 31Every Idle Word
Chapter 32My Angelic Escort
Chapter 33Reunion
Chapter 34Purgatory
Chapter 35Grief
Chapter 36The Queen
Chapter 37The Appearance
Chapter 38The Prayers
Chapter 39The Pilgrimage
Chapter 40Completion
Chapter 41The Beginning
 
Scripture quotations marked ASV are taken from the American Standard Version Bible (Public Domain).
 
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
 
Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.
 
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
 
Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved

 
 
 
When I initially started writing this book, it was my intention to write it for my children and grandchildren. I wanted to share some of the things I felt were important about life. And indeed, it is to them that I dedicate this book.
But as I wrote the book, I came to realize I was really writing it for myself. I was forced to truly look at my life, how I had lived it and how I should live it going forward.
It is my hope that if others should read it, they would come to the same conclusions I did. Therefore, I also dedicate this book to any who should read it and whose lives are enriched in any meaningful way, no matter how small. May they be truly blessed.
 
 
 
 
 
And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment.
—Hebrews 9:27 (ASV)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank God, who gave me the time, health and resources to write this novel. As I told Him on many occasions, if I’m not writing for His glory, then I’m wasting my time.
I want to thank my beautiful wife, Monica, for her support and helpful suggestions and encouragement. Thank you, my love. I could not have done it without you.
I also want to thank my father-in-law, Richard D. Gordon, and my high school English teacher, Pat Jackson, for the invaluable help and insights they gave me. You both showed me things I would not have seen on my own. Thank you so much.

CHAPTER 1 THE END
What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
—James 4:14 (NIV)
I had not expected to die today.
When I woke up on this frosty fall morning, dying was the last thing on my mind. In fact, it wasn’t on my mind at all. I had slept in fits and starts and was still tired and groggy as I pulled myself out of bed and got dressed. I suffered from sleep apnea and nowadays basically felt tired all the time. It had become part of my way of life.
I was in a hurry, as usual. I had to go to the city to see my son Keith, run a few errands and keep an appointment. I hated being late.
I was thinking about a lot of things as I went through my morning routine. My mind was troubled about Keith, who was experiencing a lot of difficulties in his teen years. He was my youngest and was struggling to stay in school.
He had sent me a text, which I read as soon as I got up. Dad, can you send me forty dollars for vapes? He texted.
Sure, I texted back. I really didn’t want to spend the forty dollars for vapes, but I knew that if I refused or delayed, he might get angry and not go to school. He had difficulties controlling his anger due to fetal alcohol syndrome, and the smallest perceived slight could trigger him. I had learned through hard experience not to push him, so I sent the money.
There was a voicemail on my phone from my job asking me to work a twelve-hour shift tomorrow instead of my usual eight. I was tired. I was run down. I was in my fifties, and all I wanted to do was retire. Life had become a grind, and I felt like I was on a treadmill going nowhere. I really did not want to work overtime, but I wanted the money, so I phoned them back and told them I’d do it.
As I struggled to get my socks on, something that I was finding more and more difficult to do as I gained weight and became less flexible, my wife Julie woke up.
“Johnny honey,” she said, “before you go, can you go to the drugstore and buy that medication I was telling you about for the elderly lady at church? She really needs it today.”
I didn’t have a lot of extra time if I wanted to get to that appointment on time. “I’m kind of in a hurry,” I said.
She rolled over and pulled her covers up onto her head. “You always are.”
A pang of guilt ran through me. She was right. I was always in a hurry. It seemed that my entire life was composed of just running from one thing to the next. I didn’t even have time to pick up some medication for an elderly widow.
“All right, I’ll do it,” I said. “I should have just enough time.”
“Thanks, love. Bring it back here, and I’ll take it over to her after I get up.”

I got into my newer-model SUV and drove to the pharmacy, which luckily was already open. It had snowed overnight, and the road was slick in places. This was just wonderful, I thought. Now my trip to the city would take even longer.
When I got home, I gave my wife the medication and kissed her goodbye. “I should be about five hours or so,” I said, not realizing it would be the last time I would ever kiss her beautiful face.
“Have a good day, love.”
“I hope so,” I replied, but I didn’t have any real confidence that I would.
The appointment was about Keith’s school performance, which wasn’t going well. I was busy—too busy to relax and feel good about things. I was working a full-time job, running a business with my uncle, still helping out my kids and looking after my wife, who wasn’t always in the best of health. Something was always coming up. My kids were often at odds with each other, and with my wife and me, and it seemed I was continuously just trying to hold everything together. Good days were few and far between.
I pulled out on to the highway and began my journey. I felt rushed. With the traffic and the tempera