
This past year has been one of the most heart-wrenching and hardest years of my life. It was a week before Christmas, last year, when I lost my best friend in the world, my dad. A week or so later, as soon as I got home from his memorial service, I found out that one of my friends got killed in a snowmobile accident. He left behind a wife and a 3 year old son. From that time until today, four more people that I knew and loved passed away…but the memorial service that I attended today was one of the hardest. The service was for a man that I loved very, very much. I used to tell him that he was my second dad and he and his wife would call me their “second son.”
He was what every dad and husband should be to a family: a caring and kind father who loved his two children beyond measure. He would do anything for them and always demonstrated his love by what he did and said to them. But his wife was his queen. He treated her like royalty. She was the one that he absolutely loved, cherished and adored. It was evident by the way they looked, talked, and spent time with each other. She was truly, in every sense of the word, his “soul-mate.” I used to always tell the two of them, if I was to look up the word “soul-mate” in the dictionary, I would find a picture of them next to the word.
My friend loved life to the fullest and he loved to laugh…it was SO infectious to the people around him. A few years ago, he was diagnosed with having pancreatic cancer which was the disease that sadly took his life four days ago. During the past month or so, when they found out that the disease was not progressing in the right direction, my friend and his wife decided to spend their precious remaining time together talking about how blessed they were and looking back during their 52 years of marriage…they had no regrets (other than having more time together). Their love for each other was complete and unconditional. They expressed a true love for each other that was apparent to everyone that knew them.
I sat there and thought to myself, how many of us, when we are at the end of our lives here on earth, will be able to say to our spouse and loved ones, that we had no regrets. How many of us, even now, have regret about things that we never did or said to the ones that we love? How many of us might regret something that we may have done or said to someone? Regret is a strong emotion and it can cause a lot of grief and sadness to a person…if they allow it. So make it a goal, each day, to live without regret. Take time to do or say something special with your better half each day, while time is still on your side…so that you can someday say to the ones you love, that the life you shared with them was a blessing and, most importantly…you had no regrets.
My sincere condolences on the losses you have had this year. The advice about no regrets is wonderful. Thank you for sharing it. 🙂
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The powerful grace in these lives is what genesis is. You will be with them again.
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My heart goes out to you at this sad and difficult time. Sounds like you have been blessed with many wonderful people in your life, hope you cherish the good memories.
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Absolutely beautiful. Thank you.
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It certainly is a good decision to focus on the good that happened to us throughout our journey in life. It is wise to say a Big Thank You to God and handle the exit door with happiness.
I believe it is not easy unless we practice it while on the journey.
Thank you for sharing!
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My God be with you and the families who have lost their loved ones during these difficult times. I hope things get brighter soon for all of you. Know I will pray for you and your friends. God Bless you all.
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Oh heavens Coach I am so sorry for your loss(es), my heart goes out to you! I can genuniely relate to having so many people recieve their angel wings in such a short time, it’s very difficult. Blessings to you and yours! ❤
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Coach – Please know that I walk beside you in this journey. If you hadn’t cared so much, it wouldn’t hurt so much, but we’ll take the hurt because it represents our love. Remember how they lived rather than died. My blessings to you.
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Thanks you for your kind words my friend!! They mean a lot 🙂
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My condolences on your loss(es). May we also learn to live to the fullest with no regrets at the end of our lives.
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I lost my dad a month ago today. Kismet that I read this today. Thank you for putting yourself out there and sharing.
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You’re welcome my friend. I am sorry that you lost your dad…I know how you feel. My heart is with you. I am glad that this post could help you in some small way
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I ponder these things, myself. Every day. I am so sorry for the loss of your father. I lost my own father over three years ago after a heartbreaking, lengthy 12 years of watching suffer after being left severely brain-injured and paralyzed when he was run down in a crosswalk a block from home. We were devastated. I miss him so much. God Be With You.
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