About a year ago, a friend called to tell me that her good friend died in her sleep. This was a relatively young woman and an unexpected death. That call was one of those wake-up calls that alerts you to the fact that your life can change in any moment.
While this is a grim thought, it is the kind of thought that propels you to think deeply about the people you love and what you do with and for those people.
As I think of this today, the following questions come to mind:
- How are those that I love most doing?
- At this moment, what are those people seeking, wanting, needing? How can I help in this regard?
- Have I told these people recently how much they mean to me?
- How can I better the patterns of living so that I am supporting these people as best I can?
Caring for one another in ways that are purposeful, meaningful and loving is what makes life valuable and positive. I don't want to forget this.