June 27, 2011

NEVER TAKE YOUR LOVED ONES FOR GRANTED!

How often do we speed through our days without spending any quality time with the people we cherish the most in this world? How many times do we rush out the door on our way to work in the mornings without giving our significant other a kiss good bye, because we are running late, and we know that we will be able to spend extra time with them in the evening when our work day is over? For those of you who are blessed with children, do you look at their young lives and say to yourself that it is ok that you work all that overtime, because you will spend more time with them whenever they get a little older and whenever your work schedule slows down a bit. What if I asked you, "What if tomorrow never comes?" What if the person or people you love the most are taken away from you, and you never have the opportunity to say good bye? What if your spouse is diagnosed with a rapid, growing cancer, and you never have the chance to make up for all those hours you lost because of business meetings and appointments? Life happens very quickly, so I say to you, NEVER take any of your loved ones for granted!

Have you ever heard the saying, "Here today, gone tomorrow"? This saying can refer to anything in life from money, friends, or time to spend with those we hold dear to our hearts. We may feel that we have all the time in the world, but the world knows otherwise. 

As I was posting yesterday's blog early this morning, I decided to check the messages on a "Group" that I am part of on facebook concerning a little boy who has been fighting cancer. I was not prepared for the words that I was about to read. The little boy had lost his battle with this deadly disease on Saturday evening. Even though I had never met this young man, the flood gates of my emotions sprung forth with a tidal wave of tears. I could not even begin to imagine what this family could be feeling at this time. To lose a distant family member such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or cousin is one thing, but to lose a child would be devastating. 

Today is my son's 15th birthday, and as my family began to plan to celebrate my son's beautiful, wonderful life, another family was planning funeral arrangements for their child. From day to day, we never know what may happen or what curves life decides to take along this journey. We need to look at each of our days as God intended for us to look at our days; as beautiful, precious, irreplaceable moments of sheer joy and wonder. Love and cherish those dear to you, because we never know if we will have the opportunity to do so again. NEVER take your loved ones for granted!