I've been thinking a lot about life lately.
Several weeks ago I arrived at work on a Monday morning and the first phone call that I received was a client and an office friend wanting to confirm what they had heard through the grapevine - that the brother of one of our attorney's had passed away over the weekend. I was the only one in the office at the time and I had no way to confirm or deny what she was asking because I hadn't heard. Throughout the day it was confirmed and even though most of us had never met the brother, we knew enough about the family and their relationships to know that the loss was sudden and tragic.
The day before I received this call at the office, we had spent time with Nate's aunt who is fighting a terminal illness. We very much enjoyed our short visit with her and her husband, but we left their home saddened by her weakness and her condition.
Yesterday I found out that my mother's cousin had a heart attack. In her father's family, that makes 4 since September. I only ever met this cousin once. When my cousin passed away last fall, my mom's cousin was passing through and happened to stop by my parents home when we were there visiting with my aunts and uncles. Although I didn't know him well, I remember hearing him speak about his family and his daughters with such love. I feel the loss through that memory and through my mom and am I am also reminded of the passing of my cousin.
So many sad and tragic things happening to so many wonderful people. The tsunami in Japan, the war with Libya, the battles that are being fought overseas, in the states, and the personal battles being fought by every person in the world on a daily basis.
I am the kind of person that believes that everything happens for a reason. I have always believed that and it is something that gets my through some of my darkest days. Sometimes, however, even that belief makes it difficult to handle so much sadness and heartache. Each of these incidences have impacted my life and have made me realize once again (because apparently I tend to forget) just how fragile life is. I don't know why these things are happening, I just know that God is in control and that He knows why - and while it's hard at times and we may not understand, it is up to us to make the most of the time that we are given.
With all these things going on in the world around me, my gratitude for my very many blessings has come to the forefront. Words cannot express the love I feel from above and the gratitude that I have the knowledge that there is a plan for each of us and that this life is not the end for us.
My goal with this reminded realization is to let the ones that I love know that I love them more often, and to take advantage of the life that I have by living it to the fullest and making memories and relationships that will last for forever.
