Life Is Precious

I write with a heavy heart today.

Last year, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with one of my best friends from days gone by, with whom I’d lost touch over the years. She was intrigued by my island story and happy for my happiness, but I was equally pleased that she had such joy in her Stateside life. Newly into a second marriage, she was madly in love, pregnant with their baby, enjoying her older children and successful in her profession. Life was great.

Now, the delightful baby is almost 7 months old, and today is my friend’s two-year wedding anniversary. But it is not a happy occasion. I just learned yesterday afternoon that my friend’s husband died in a motorcycle wreck the night before.

Words fail. My heart aches. A number of you have experienced the tragic death of a loved one. I can’t even imagine the pain and grief my friend must be experiencing right now. It feels somewhat ironic to me that I just posted about not being a Pollyanna, having gone through my own dark days, blah, blah, blah. That just pales in comparison. I imagine she can only move forward in one minute intervals at the moment, that even 15 minutes feels like too much in his sudden and heart-wrenching absence.

How do you talk about Choosing the Better Life in the face of a situation like my friend’s? Amazingly, she has the strength and Grace to still assert her thankfulness for her children and the good in her life, even in the midst of all this. As she makes her way down the beginning of this painful path, she reminds her friends to “Please, please, please kiss your loved ones and make EVERY minute count because they are soo precious.”

And so I pass her reminder on to you. Whatever you’re experiencing today, it could be worse. Let’s be thankful for what we have. If you’re in the midst of your own crisis, even giving thanks for the shining sun or the comforting love of a pet is a start. Just hold on, keep breathing, and take it one small step at a time. Most important, grab your loved ones NOW for a big hug and tell them how much they mean to you! Make every single moment count.

Last evening, as this was heavy on my mind and in my heart, I turned to see a glorious sunset. My dear friend, this is for you and your beloved.

The sun is setting, but it will rise again.