April 28th would have marked the 18th birthday of my cousin, Cat. She was killed in a tragic accident at the age of 6. It seems completely unbelievable that so much time has passed. She would have graduated from high school this year and that fact is not lost on me. She died the summer before my senior year of high school. I still remember having the opportunity to lead my class in prayer at graduation and realizing as I stood on that platform that my senior year was a tremendous wake-up call to real life. At the time I felt like I slammed head first into the ugly world of adulthood. A world where six year olds die. A world where heartache played out in courtrooms and news stories. Now I can look back and see that year more as a time of unwrapping a priceless gift. The gift of life.
The last few days I have just felt such an urgency to share with you that life is short and it is precious. I learned that at the age of 17. By the time I had my first baby I knew that I wasn't guaranteed the first day of kindergarten, middle school dances or high school graduation. Life is a gift and our days are borrowed. I've never been one for drama, but lately it almost pushes me over the edge. Sometimes when I hear arguing, conflict and complaining about silly things that will mean nothing in the long run I almost can't stop myself from screaming "STOP! Don't waste your breath or your days on this silly stuff!" It's not worth it y'all. I guess this year I had an extra reminder when I lost my Dad who was only 55. I will never forget standing by his casket and having someone tell me "It's too young. It's just too young."
YOU SAID IT ALL , I LOVE THOSE PICTURES OF
THE KIDS, MAN I WANT TO HUG THEM AND YALL
LIKE YOU CANT BELIEVE. I MAILED A SUPRISE
TO ELI THIS MORNING FOR HIS BIRTHDAY, NANNA
PICKED IT OUT AND I GOT IT TO THE POST OFFICE!
ENJOY THE KIDS NOW LIFE FLYS BY IN A HURRY
THE MORE THEY AGGRAVATE YOU HUG JUST
THAT MUCH HARDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YALL HAVE FUN AT THE ZOO AND GIVE ELI
A BIG HUG FOR ME ON HIS BIRTHDAY, HUG
SARAH TOO.
EMILY, PLEASE BE SAFE ON THOSE RURAL ROADS,
YOU AND JOSH BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lOVE
DAD
3 comments:
Great Advice Mr. Roger...Thank you!
thanks for the reminder em.
What a sweet email and I'm so glad you saved it so you have it now. I've been thinking about how short life is lately too - we've had several tragedies around us lately. A 34 year from our community died at the beach last week helping two women get back to shore who were caught in the undertow. Then the oil field bombing (about 10 guys in our church work out there including my husband) was a huge wake up call that we're not always guarenteed tommorrow! I really, really want my today to count for eternity!
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