We always think that we will have more time. We believe that we will get another chance to say the things we want to say. But the truth is not so kind. The day will come that we hear someone's voice for the last time, feel their touch for the last time, hug or kiss them for the last time. If we are lucky, we get a little warning. We get the chance to say goodbye. But, there will still be things we wish we had said. We will still miss their voice, their touch. Sadly, all too often, we don't get that chance. People are taken away from us unexpectedly. We must say goodbye before we are ready. Too much is left unsaid, undone.
We tend to get caught up in everyday life. We tend to neglect our loved ones as well as ourselves. We take for granted the time we are given. We fail to appreciate the small moments. We fail to see the beauty that is all around us. We fail to let our loved ones know what they mean to us. How often does someone cross our minds and we think, "I should call them" or "I should check on them," but then we get busy, and we don't do it. We fail to listen to that small still voice that urges us.
There will always be those people that come into our lives and change it profoundly. There will be those people that make us better human beings by simply knowing them. They teach us to love. They teach us to forgive. They teach us to grow. They are not in our lives by mistake. These are the people that we miss most when they are gone.
What do we do? How do we honor them? We honor them by learning the lessons they teach us. We honor them by being more like them. We become the light for others that they were for us. We learn to be brave enough to take time to say "I love you," "Thank you," "I am sorry." We learn to stop and appreciate what we have and the beauty that is life.
In honor of those who have touched my soul, I pray to be more like you.
For everyone that is rading this, may you see the beauty that surrounds you. May you find the peace and comfort you need. May you learn from those that are your light and become a light for others.
Much love to you all.