By Kirk, my paternal grandfather, who I called granddaddy was a wealth of wisdom. He was a man of few words but when he did talk people listened to him me most of all. For those of you who don’t know, he had Parkinson’s disease the whole time I had the pleasure of knowing him on earth. His condition allowed him a different perspective then most people about what was important in life. When I was 10 years old my grandma’s sister died. It wasn’t a sad occasion because she had been sick for many years, but Kirk offered me some of the best advice I’ve ever received the day of her funeral.
Her funeral was quite the spectacle. Grandma went all out making sure every detail was perfect. during the wake, granddad looked at me and shook his head. “This is all well and good. You should honor those you love…always. However, honoring them this way is not what’s most important, crackerjack The most important way to honor the people you love is to tell them that you do while they’re still here to appreciate your words.” I nodded my head. I recognized sage Kirk advice when I heard it. I’ve always tried to take that advice to heart.
In the last few days his advice has come rushing back because we’ve had a family emergency. I hear his words as clearly as if he were still right here next to me. Making sure that one of the people I love the most clearly knows how much I love them has been so important to me. Everything is going to be fine with time think God, I mean that literally, but what if it wasn’t? I wanted to make sure I had absolutely no regrets if this was the beginning of the end of their time on earth.
I want you all to remember to tell the people that you love that you love them while they’re still here every chance you get. Pick up the phone and call them. Schedule a visit. Soak up every moment you have with your loved ones because the one thing we don’t get is more time. Don’t look back with regrets and if onlys because expressing love is too important. It is the most important thing we can do.
