Bucket List Poem by Tra Merryman

I just got the news today;
The doctor gives me a year
Change the way I am living; that’s what the doctor has to say
Don’t eat this; don’t do that, stop drinking beer …
This lifestyle is all I have even known, what can I do to change it?
Start eating right, stop smoking, and stop drinking … all to be fit?
If I only have a year before my life is done
Why do I need to stop all that I am doing to fight a battle that can’t be won?
I asked the doctor if he was sure and decided to get a second opinion
Or to seek out other advice;
Same results from three more doctors was the roll of the dice
There’s so much I haven’t done yet; haven’t jumped out of a plane,
Haven’t been to other countries, haven’t even been on a cruise!
There’s so much more in life I want to do.
Will I leave a legacy to my family and friends?
Have I done well in life and be forgiven of my sins?
So many say, “Life is too short.” Others say, “Life is the longest thing
You will ever have.” Well … I am only fifty years old!
I thought I would have longer to do everything I have set out to do
To share with my children all the stories I was told!
As I walk out of the hospital and look at my beautiful wife
I realize everything she has done for me and how much
She has contributed to my life
Did I take her love for granted and give her all she wanted
Will she look back on the days of my drinking and carrying on?
Will she look back on the days I refused to go to church with her?
Why was I so hard headed? I went to church on holidays and
Listened to what the preacher had to say
I remember the times when he’d look right at me and asked me to
Get saved that day.
I didn’t think I needed it way back then;
Now time is running out and I need to fix my life and ask Jesus
To wash away my sins …
Time is all I have on my hands.
I have a lot to finish before the good Lord calls my name
I have to make a mend to the people I’ve hurt and the people I’ve blamed
For it was only myself to be the blame for all my failures and shortcomings
It’s time to take matters into my own hands and start making my list
And checking it twice … to see what’s left to do with cards I have been dealt
I have found Jesus and know my mansion awaits me with all its wealth.
I have lived my life to the fullest or so I thought. There’s a lot I have missed
So now I will sit down to write out my bucket list.