Do No Harm

As I go through life trying to be a good wife, mother and grandmother, a faithful church member, a caring friend and a professional music teacher I often ponder on the Old Testament's King Hezekiah.  He has a thought-provoking story.  According to 2 Kings,  Hezekiah became king of Judah at age 25.  He trusted in the Lord and was considered a righteous king.  Several years later Hezekiah becomes sick unto death and the prophet Isaiah tells him:

Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.  Hezekiah prays in desperation:  "I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.  And Hezekiah wept sore.

The Lord hears his prayer and says through Isaiah:  ...behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.  And I will add unto thy days fifteen years...

So fifteen years later, Hezekiah dies.   However, within those extra fifteen years given to him, he has a son named Manasseh who becomes the king at age twelve and ... did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.  Manasseh has a horrific reign and sheds so much innocent blood that it filled Jerusalem from one end to another....including, tradition tells us, that of the great prophet Isaiah who was sawn asunder during the reign of Manasseh.

So sad.  Having been spared from an early death myself, I think this message is for me.  No matter how much more time I might have on this earth, perhaps I should not focus so much on trying to do good but just hope that in all my endeavors I DON'T DO TOO MUCH DAMAGE!!! 

If I have, please forgive me....it's a real challenge.