I went to a funeral today. A dear friend recently lost her daughter in a car crash. It was a sad and yet beautifully moving service. The church was filled with many family and friends. She touched a lot of people. As family members read their good-byes, people wept. Some who were very close to the deceased young woman, wept with the greatest pain. I can think of no other experience that is equal to the feeling of when a child is suddenly taken from us. It's the ultimate tragedy to lose one's child. Nothing else matters at a time like this. Nothing. Anything outside of this moment of pain is insignificant.
As the priest read from scripture, I turned to my daughter and held on to her hand tightly. I remembered her as a young child with a wonderfully wide open smile and twinkle in her eye. Now she is a beautiful young woman with a life full of opportunity and hope ahead. She still has that wonderful smile and twinkle in her eye but with a growing, mature confidence that will guide her through life's journey. I look forward to sharing in her journey.
I believe that "things" happen for a reason. There are life lessons presented to us daily, some more profound than others. The funeral today re-emphasized the lesson that we should live to the fullest each day, as if it was our last. We should be grateful for life and not waste the gift. And more importantly tell your family and friends how much you love them, because you never know when its their time to go home to God.
