Mid- April always feels a little heavy.
During my Senior year of high school, a mutual friend of my younger sister and I passed away. A freak car accident, and she was gone from this world forever. What do you do with that as a teenager? I clung to my sister and those I loved. I cried buckets of tears. Scott got in his car and drove home from college to spend the weekend with me. Admittedly, Kaitlin was a closer friend of Amanda’s. I loved her, too. It was hard not to. Amanda’s grief was much heavier than mine. I know that.
I always made it a point to call my sister on April 17th each year. Except this year. I was dealing with very sick kids, and the day got away from me. We talked today.
I don’t remember the last thing I said to Kaitlin. It was probably something silly about squirrels. Myspace was a big deal back in 2006. I do remember the last thing she posted on Myspace. I copied it the way she typed it and saved it, because it was so profound.
“Always tell someone how you feel.mean what you say and say what you mean even when its hard ’cause opportunities are lost in a blink of an eye and the regrets can last a lifetime“
How true those words are. Life is nothing more than a vapor.
This morning, I was awakened early by crying and coughing kids. Once they got settled back down, I jumped on the computer. I saw the news that a friend of mine was tragically killed in a car accident. A senseless car accident. Some selfish person hit a pedestrian in a parking lot, fled, and slammed into her car. In the blink of an eye, a young mother and wife was taken. She has two young children at home and a husband that are grieving. I cannot even imagine. I sat and cried. I just keep hoping that she will say “IT WASN’T ME! I’m safe!”
Life is so short. You don’t know when your life is going to be over. It doesn’t matter your age. A 17 year old high school student, a 31 year old mom, or my 80 year old father-in-law. It. Does. Not. Matter. Live every day like it could be your last. Hug people tight and a little longer. Love them. Pray for them. Pray with them. If you don’t know Jesus, get to know Him before it’s too late. Don’t let yourself have any regrets.
Please keep her family in your prayers.
