Losing those we love…..

To often we take our loved one’s for granted. We speak to them and treat them as if they will live forever which is not the case at all.

None of us live forever…I mean, would we even want to?

Many of you know that we lost our son 4.5 years ago. He was only 17. His father and I had 50/50 custody, but even then, primary residence was with his dad so my time with him was limited as it was. Losing him was extremely hard on all of us, but I truly feel that it was hardest on me beings I carried him and birthed him. But I don’t want to be selfish because I know it affected his siblings, father, stepfather, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins greatly as well.

Anywho, had I known his days were numbered such as they were, I probably would have done things a little differently.

Isn’t that what we all like to think about ourselves….’if I had only known.’

Truth is…we do know.
We do know that life can end in a matter of seconds. Car accidents. Sudden illness. Farm accidents. Gunshots. Knife stabs. Eaten by a bear! Suicide. Drive-by’s. Natural disasters and careless mistakes. Anything can kill us at any time or any given day!

Truth is…we can do things differently.
Every single day we wake up we are given another chance to do something better than the day before. Treat someone better. Speak to someone better. Help someone more or maybe less in some situations. Set a better example for someone. We should strive to treat everyone we come in contact with in a kind manner as we never know what life is dishing them at the moment.

Truth is….we can spend more ‘quality’ time.
Ride the bike with your son/daughter. Spend that five extra minutes with your parent. Join your friend for lunch and be a little late getting back. Lay on the deck with your spouse watching the stars glitter in the night sky. Talk all night long with your best friend. Hold hands with your spouse. Snuggle with your kids. And dance in the rain with someone. Or by yourself even. Just do it.

My uncle is dying of cancer. Word is it could be anytime in the next few days. My aunt passed away earlier this year due to cancer. I sit, often, and think of all those my family has lost over the last 15 years and my heart breaks for all of them. But, my heart also breaks for those we will lose over the next few years. As inevitable as it is, death is hard. Some believe the younger a person passes away the harder it s on the surviving family. Some believe the opposite. In my own experience, death is just hard. Beings that it cannot be escaped, we are given every day to make every minute count with our loved ones. Smile the smiles, cry the tears, let go of the angers and upsets. Let the broken hearts heal and always offer forgiveness.

Find your reason to smile & keep smiling
~ Shannon ~