Teen-ager Sam Berns Dies of Old Age

Seventeen year-old Sam Berns died on Friday, but his death did not come as a surprise to his parents. Berns suffered from  Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, a rare disorder that accelerates the aging process. Sam was diagnosed with the disease at 22 months. His funeral was Tuesday.

It's a sad story. A family loses their child, who is old way before his time. You may have seen  Sam featured on the HBO documentary  "Life According to Sam," which helped bring great recognition to the condition, as yahoo reports  causes musculoskeletal degeneration, cardiovascular problems and other symptoms associated with aging.

I have whined recently about turning 50, and bemoaning the fact that old age is approaching. I think it's time for me to  stop whining and be thankful that I have made this far. Compared to Sam, I have already lived a lifetime.

How many of us take life for granted. We make plans for the future, but have no guarantee of tomorrow, let alone our next breath. We gripe and complain about our job, co-workers and family members, our church, our kids, and things, that in the big picture are pretty meaningless.We should stop sweating the small stuff.

The fact is, your life is never going to be perfect. Never. There will always be issues, conflicts, challenges and struggles, so you might as well get used to it.That's what life is all about. It's never going to be problem-free.  Does that mean that our life can't be extremely happy and rewarding?  I would say not. Our life will be what we make of it, regardless of the hand we have been dealt.

Sam lived a short  lifetime in 17 years. I'm sad for him that he missed out on so many good things life has to offer. And, I'm sad for Sam's parents, who's lives, because of this loss, will never be the same again.  But, it makes me extremely grateful for the life I've lived, and for any years in the future that God chooses to bless me with. Hopefully I will make the most of them.