You never know
Eight years ago in July, My then fiance and I attended a wedding for a friend of mine. I remember it being such a happy day for her. I met a couple at the wedding-- young, vibrant, a life that promised to be sweet--all waiting for them. The young woman was pregnant and her husband was all smiles. We three couples smiled broadly for the camera, never knowing that one day very soon tragedy would pursue us.
Flash forward three years. I met the same couple at my friends home. By then, I'd been married three years, having married DH one month after the wedding. We stood in the kitchen talking about life in general. I found out the young couple was actually a little older than I had originally assumed, so we had more in common than I thought. We were to meet again at nearly every event my friend had.
Flash forward another two years, and my friend calling me to say that she was getting a divorce. It seemed so shocking and I thought back to her wedding not that long ago. They had one child by then.
Flash forward about six months and the news that the couple I'd met at her wedding--the husband had died. I was stunned. He was only thirty-five, and in a snap he was gone, leaving her with two children to raise.
This July and it will be eight years since that happy day. It seems so long ago. I think of the picture of us--all smiles, not knowing what was coming, not knowing how short our happiness would be--took for granted a long future. We'd all married to grow old together. Yet none of us would even see ten years together.
You never know what life has in store. The best thing is to cherish each day, live life as though it is your last day on earth. Stop and smell the roses. Don't fret over little things.
Flash forward three years. I met the same couple at my friends home. By then, I'd been married three years, having married DH one month after the wedding. We stood in the kitchen talking about life in general. I found out the young couple was actually a little older than I had originally assumed, so we had more in common than I thought. We were to meet again at nearly every event my friend had.
Flash forward another two years, and my friend calling me to say that she was getting a divorce. It seemed so shocking and I thought back to her wedding not that long ago. They had one child by then.
Flash forward about six months and the news that the couple I'd met at her wedding--the husband had died. I was stunned. He was only thirty-five, and in a snap he was gone, leaving her with two children to raise.
This July and it will be eight years since that happy day. It seems so long ago. I think of the picture of us--all smiles, not knowing what was coming, not knowing how short our happiness would be--took for granted a long future. We'd all married to grow old together. Yet none of us would even see ten years together.
You never know what life has in store. The best thing is to cherish each day, live life as though it is your last day on earth. Stop and smell the roses. Don't fret over little things.
Replies
How true we all need to take the view from the rear view mirror and learn much from it. ~HUGS~
Donale
yes.....\'tis true..........we forget that so quickly though...........thanks
Lorita
It\'s so true. We should cherish and enjoy every moment. When I was young I used to think it would be wonderful to know what would happen to me in the future. Now I know it is God\'s gift that we don\'t know what is ahead for us. Hugs, Dianne
So true. I remember when the kids were little and I would have done anything just to go to the bathroom by myself. Time has swiftly gone by.How I miss those days
Wow! How much has changed from the picture of the three couples to what is going on now in your lives! It is incredible. We have to treasure and enjoy each day that we walk on this crazy planet that is for sure. The one thing constant is change. Things and people change all the time that is for sure.
I got the chills reading your . Life just takes us by surprise and much of it is sad. If we did know how would we change? That is the question we need to ask ourselves now everyday how to get the most out of life. Just a little hard to do when it seems that best is past but maybe down the road we\'ll have the strenght and motivation to try each day. Hug, Donna
When I was younger, in my twenties and thirties, taking so many things for granted, I can remember asking myself, \"Is this all there is to life?\" How foolish, I was! I would give anything to relive those days with my husband and babies. Never, at the time, did I think I would look back and realize that those were the happiest days of my life. I think I have now learned to be appreciative of what I have and count my blessings for each new day. It just makes me sad to think that it took the loss of the person I loved most in this world to learn this.
What great writing. I just wish that more people could live by it. Rob and I never took anything for granted. Never a day went by without it filled with I love you\'s and kisses. The day he passed, I told my sister that if she learns anything from this, it\'s to NOT take anything for granted (her and her husband have issues). I think I\'ll relay your story to her also, if that is okay. Hugs, Pam