“Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone” (James 4:14, New Living Translation).

Recently I came across a couple of tragic examples of how fleeting life is. On April 20, 2015, Jacqueline Carr, 65, of Cincinnati, was coming home from church when a tree uprooted, landed on her car, and killed her. She left behind an understandably devastated family. The retired teacher is said to have touched countless lives. Even preceding death, Carr was giving somebody else a break by waving them on to go ahead of her; that's when it happened.

Lori Johnson, a Roswell teacher, was killed in a head-on car crash while driving home after a visit with her grandson in the hospital. Johnson taught sixth grade at Mesa Middle School and dearly loved her grandkids. "She was doing what she would have wanted to do—love her grandkids—and she didn't make it home," said her daughter, Audrey Knudsen.

I am reminded of a quote from an unknown author: “As you breathe, another person takes his last breath. So stop complaining and live your life with what you got…make every breath count.” Those are sobering words! One of my favorite pieces of advice for many years has been “Make the most of everyday, because it may be your last.” While none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, we can improve our quality of life by making every day count. So here are three points that can help you have a more fulfilled life.

1. Start with gratitude to God and others.

Did you know that a grateful heart can boost your immune system? In an article by Elizabeth Heubeck entitled "Boost Your Health With a Dose of Gratitude," she states, “Grateful people tend to be more optimistic, a characteristic that researchers say boosts the immune system.” You can read more about the awesome benefits of being grateful and your health here. Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, New Living Translation). Since God created you, He knew that gratitude is good for the health of the body; that is why He commanded it.

2. Do acts of kindness

Acts of kindness make you feel good, not to mention the person for whom you did the act of kindness. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:31: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has.” In an article entitled "The 5 Side Effects of Kindness," David Hamilton writes: “Acts of kindness are often accompanied by emotional warmth. Emotional warmth produces the hormone oxytocin in the brain and throughout the body. Of recent interest is its significant role in the cardiovascular system.” This hormone oxytocin also slows down the aging process. Kindness is also contagious; something you can freely spread around. Read more from Hamilton’s article.

3. Laugh a lot!

According to the article Seven Health Benefits of Laughter, laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormone levels, and improves cardiac health. It also boosts T cells in your body, which builds up your immune system, helping you fight off illnesses. It triggers the release of endorphins, which are a natural pain reliever. Doctors have found that people who have a positive outlook on life tend to fight diseases better than people who tend to be more negative. So smile, laugh, and live longer!

Don’t take life so seriously. "The person who can bring laughter into a room is indeed blessed” (Bennet Cerf). Proverbs 17:22 states, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 15:15 (NLT) says, “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” God’s wish for us is to live an abundant, happy life.

So how should we live our daily life? Does God require great sacrifice or huge offerings? No! What God requires of us is in Micah 6:8: “O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Peter wrote: “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:10-12).

Jacqueline Carr and Lori Johnson were busy making life count with doing good when they succumbed to an untimely death. Life is but a vapor, so make every day count with gratitude, acts of kindness and laughter, because we are not guaranteed tomorrow!

“Time stops for no one, so make every moment count. Be happy and don't waste a day being sad, because tomorrow is not promised” (Author unknown).