“You know, one of these days, you aren’t going to be able to get up on that chair.”

The comment came from my husband, who caught me standing on a chair in order to catch a glimpse of my full outfit in the small entryway mirror.

We don’t own a full-length mirror. All these years, we never needed one because stepping up on a kitchen chair to look into the entryway mirror has worked just fine.

Until my husband reminded me of my age and ultimately my impending mortality.

He was teasing good-naturedly, as he always does, but the comment stuck.

Taking our mortality for granted

All too often, I zoom through my day, completing one task after another and taking for granted that I will be here the next day to finish whatever task I can’t accomplish.

“It’ll be there tomorrow,” my mom used to say of chores remaining.

However, although the chores will be there, I might not be.

It is fascinating that we as human beings tend to take our mortality for granted. 

But the fact remains that, just like in the old country song, nobody gets out of this world alive.

Pray for the dead

Beginning with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, November is the month we recall our mortality and pray for those who have gone before us.

While we remain here on earth, it’s our duty to pray for our loved ones and all the souls in Purgatory awaiting their purification before they can enter Heaven.

We can never assume anyone is already in Heaven, as that is a judgment only God can make. 

But we hold onto the hope of God’s mercy, and the best way we can assist our loved ones’ souls is to pray for them and have Masses offered for them.

“O Jesus, my love extends beyond the world, to the souls suffering in Purgatory, and I want to exercise mercy toward them by means of indulgenced prayers,” said St. Faustina Kowalska.

The one task 

Every one of us will reach the point at which we can no longer do the tasks this Earthly life requires.

At some point, there simply are no more tomorrows.

But when it’s my turn to leave this world, there’s only one task I want my loved ones to remember: To offer prayers for me.

I won’t get to Heaven without them.

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”