Last weekend my daughter called me in tears to tell me that a friend of hers had passed away. A 20-year-old young man with so much spirit, and presumably his whole life ahead of him.
Except that it didn’t work out that way.
Instead he’s gone, leaving family and friends devastated.
Even though I didn’t know her friend personally, it hit me hard. It could have just as easily been one of my kids, or anyone’s for that matter.
I think that we think that because someone is young that they will be with us forever. And even if we’re not young ourselves, we often think we’re immune from death and that we have all the time in the world.
But none of us really know how much time we have.
Or how much time those we love and care about have.
Every time someone passes on, it’s important to recognize that it’s a friendly reminder from God or the cosmos or whatever it is that you believe in that one day it will be our time too.
All we can do is enjoy the time we have. Enjoy our own lives and enjoy the time with have with those we love.
Even when they annoy us. Because they will. Like today when I went to the basement to seek shelter during a late-season tornado warning and as I tried to turn on the TV to catch the news to get more info on the storm, I realized that my daughter had pilfered the cable box and took it up to her room to power up a scavenged TV. Argh. Annoying.
But then I think about her friend’s family and realize that they would would likely give anything to deal with these kind of petty annoyances again. If even for just one more day.
So let’s put it into perspective.
We’ll have good days and bad days. But we have to do our best to enjoy every day, not just those that are glowing and go well. But also those that aren’t so great.
So consider this a public service announcement of sorts…a friendly reminder…enjoy your time with the people you care about while you have it.
So sad and so sorry for the loss. You have said it so well, and the public service announcement is just that, and one all ages need heed, so thank you. so thank you. No doubt that perspective is so often a useful tool in our emotional coping kit. We’ve all had those moments when we let the stressing block out the blessing, as a friend recently wrote. Tomorrow is promised no one. And no one’s gettin out alive, as so many elders like to say. Quite right. Hooray to you for your friendly reminder. One day, one week at a time, stop, smell the roses, say what you need to say to those you care about, consider the power of forgiveness, and treasure the good and the bad days for what each brings. Life’s just sweeter with an attitude of gratitude, cliche as it sounds.