Yesterday we experienced the death of someone close to our hearts. A two-year-old girl named Brianna who, like Zane, was the unfortunate recipient of Trisomy 18 and, thus, a shorter life expectancy.
Death has a way of making me put things into perspective. I have spent the past week hyper-focused on menial tasks: paperwork and training associated with respite, submissions and rejections related to my writing, staying abreast of the latest in Destination Imagination. In the big picture, these things mean nothing. Really. I put my kids in second—maybe even third position this past week—to take care of this busy-ness when, in reality, those priorities weren’t very important.
My mom and I had a conversation the other day. We spoke of how, in the end, love is all that really matters. Not simply love for the immediate family, but love and compassion for everyone, everything. Money, success, tangible items—all meaningless when we take the time to view life as a whole. Not just life as we know it in 2009 or as human beings, but our life in the spiritual sense—our real life that exists outside our skin, our egos, our job descriptions.
So this weekend, I am going to put the writing, the handbooks, the internet aside and spend time with Zane (Jeff and Justin are camping together this weekend). I am going to appreciate the time I have with him. I am going to practice love. Not only with him, but toward the person who slams the door in my face, the woman who doesn’t return my phone calls, the guy who forgets to put on his turn signal (see earlier post). I’m not saying I’m going to give them a big hug and a smooch, but I am going to be nice—show compassion—even if they do not appear to be deserving of it. Because (in the end) we can’t take our money, our success, or our cubicles, but we can leave an imprint by showing and practicing love.
Death has a way of making me put things into perspective. I have spent the past week hyper-focused on menial tasks: paperwork and training associated with respite, submissions and rejections related to my writing, staying abreast of the latest in Destination Imagination. In the big picture, these things mean nothing. Really. I put my kids in second—maybe even third position this past week—to take care of this busy-ness when, in reality, those priorities weren’t very important.
My mom and I had a conversation the other day. We spoke of how, in the end, love is all that really matters. Not simply love for the immediate family, but love and compassion for everyone, everything. Money, success, tangible items—all meaningless when we take the time to view life as a whole. Not just life as we know it in 2009 or as human beings, but our life in the spiritual sense—our real life that exists outside our skin, our egos, our job descriptions.
So this weekend, I am going to put the writing, the handbooks, the internet aside and spend time with Zane (Jeff and Justin are camping together this weekend). I am going to appreciate the time I have with him. I am going to practice love. Not only with him, but toward the person who slams the door in my face, the woman who doesn’t return my phone calls, the guy who forgets to put on his turn signal (see earlier post). I’m not saying I’m going to give them a big hug and a smooch, but I am going to be nice—show compassion—even if they do not appear to be deserving of it. Because (in the end) we can’t take our money, our success, or our cubicles, but we can leave an imprint by showing and practicing love.
Nobody reflects on their life and says "Man, I really loved my bank account." Well, maybe some people do, but they should be ashamed of themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt's the little things. Our kids remember the time we sat down with them to color more than the new, totally awesome wolverine claws that are only 30 dollars at Wal Mart.
LOL! Did you buy him the Wolverine claws or is he still using straws? I think the straws make a better story and definitely are more memorable!
ReplyDeleteNope. It's straws all the way. I found a bunch of them in my hunt for the wedding ring. Thankfully, he's gotten over the Wolverine fixation.
ReplyDelete