Life Is Short

Jenny’s Moonlight Ride

Jenny was so happy about the house they had found.For once in her life it was the right side of town.She unpacked her things with excitement and ease.As summer flowed through her new room in a breeze.How wonderful it was to have her own room.School would be starting; she’d have new friends soon.There’d be sleep-overs, and parties; she was so happy. It’s exactly the way she wanted her life to be.On the first day of school, everything went great.She made some new friends and even got her first date!She thought, "I’m going to be popular that has been my dream,’Cause I just got a date with the star of the team!"To be known in this school you must have a big rep,And going out with this guy would be her first real step.There was only one problem that was stopping her fate.Her parents had said she was too young to date."Well, I just won’t tell them the entire truth.They won’t know the difference; what’s there to lose?"Jenny asked to stay with her friends that night.Her parents disagreed but said, "All right."Excited, she got ready for the big night out. But as she got ready and rushed about,She began to feel guilty about the fact that she’d lied,But what’s wrong with pizza, a party, and a moonlight ride?Well the pizza was good, and the party was great,But the moonlight ride would just have to wait.For Jeff was half drunk before the clock struck nine.But he kissed her and said that he was just fine.Then the room filled with smoke and Jeff took a puff.Jenny couldn’t believe he was smoking that stuff.Now Jeff was ready to ride to the point,But only after he’d smoked one more joint.They jumped in the car for the moonlight ride,Not thinking that he was too drunk to drive.They safely made it to the point at last, But Jeff started trying to make a pass.A pass is not what Jenny wanted at all(And by a pass, I don’t mean playing football.)"Perhaps my parents were right....maybe I am too young.Boy, how could I ever, have been so dumb."With all of her might, she pushed Jeff away:"Please take me home, I don’t want to stay."Jeff cranked up the engine and floored the gas.In a matter of seconds they were going too fast.As Jeff drove on in a fit of wild anger,Jenny knew that her life was in dangerShe begged and pleaded for him to slow down,But he just got faster as they neared the town."Just let me get home! I’ll confess that I lied.I really went out for a moonlit ride."Then all of a sudden, she saw a big flash."Oh God, Please help us! We’re going to crash!"She doesn’t remember the force of impact.Just that everything all of a sudden went black.She felt someone pull her from the twisted rubble,And heard, "Call an ambulance! These kids are in trouble!Voices she heard...a few words at best.But she knew there were two cars involved in the wreck.Then wondered to herself if Jeff was alive, And if the people in the other car were allright.She awoke in the hospital to faces so sad. "You’ve been in a wreck and it looks pretty bad."These voices echoed inside her head, As they gently told her that Jeff was dead.They said "Jenny, we’ve done all we can do. But it looks as if we’ll lose you too.""But the people in the other car!? "Jenny cried."We’re sorry, Jenny, they also died."Jenny prayed, "God, forgive me for what I’ve done I only wanted to have just one night of fun.""Tell those people’s family, I’ve made their lives dim,And wish I could return their families to them.""Tell my Mom and my Dad I’m sorry I lied, And that it’s all my fault so many have died.Oh, nurse, won’t you please tell them that for me?"The nurse just stood there--she never agreed.But took Jenny’s hand with tears in her eyes.And a few moments later Jenny had died.A man asked the nurse, "Why she didn’t do her bestTo bid that girl her one last request?"She looked at the man with eyes so sad."Because the ones in the other car were her mom and dad."This story is sad and unpleasant but true,So young people take heed, it could have been you.

Today I am sharing with the youth a serious message of how fragile life is.

James tells us in poetic fashion the briefness of life itself.

Have you ever noticed that the older we get the quicker the years seem to roll by?

Yet with youth it seems that today is forever... and every setback is an enormous catastrophe.

I once saw a young girl when I was a Sub-Teacher who came into the office crying uncontollably. We thought someone had died or was dying. When we fianlly calmed her down enough to speak this is what she said.