We were reminded again this morning of how fleeting life can be. Our local county sheriff was found dead in his home by his wife overnight. This is the third such case lately. We had a 22 year old found by his parents and a 29 year woman who had an asthma attack while on the phone with her boyfriend. The emergency personnel didn't get there in time.
Up until the end there was no sign that anything was wrong in any of the cases. They'd all been living their lives just moments before.
In Missouri and Alabama there have been mass shootings the last couple of days. Innocent people gunned down for no reason. Normal people going about their normal routines and being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In my own life, I've lost people rather unexpectedly. While I was a senior in college, my 18 year old cousin was coming home for Christmas after his first semester at college and was hit and killed by a drunk driver. My dad died before I was ready. And I had a cousin that at 43 died of heat stroke after successfully battling brain cancer for 10 years. She had only been given 18 months at the initial diagnosis. Having lost my stepfather this past summer to the exact same brain tumors 19 months after his diagnosis, we know that my cousin had much longer on this earth than expected.
The phone calls you get after one of these tragedies are soul-crushing. Someone you talked to, saw, shared a meal with only hours before is no longer there.
Don't go to bed angry. One of you might not wake up. Don't leave someone in haste because you've got someplace else to get to. Tell people good-bye like you mean it. Hug those you love. Tell people you love them if you do. Be genuine, honest and open in your affection.
Remember always that you might not get another chance. Don't waste the ones you are given.
Besides, whose day doesn't get better with a hug and kiss?
Excellent reminder.
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