You never know....

I received news yesterday that a pharmacist that I had met only a few times, who worked here at a local hospital was killed in a car accident. His wife and daughter were both pharmacy technicians, as am I, and although I had not worked with either of them, two of my friends and co-workers had. My boss had also worked with the pharmacist who was killed. As we all sat horrified, hearing the news, obviously we were all shocked and it got me thinking about the man's family. What was the last thing they said to him, and he to them? Did they all know how much they meant to each other? Did they know about Jesus and heaven? I had the undeniable privelege of telling my husband every single day how much I loved him, not only when he found out he was ill, but long before that. The last 8 years of our marriage was probably our best. We enjoyed each other and laughed together and there was no doubt that if God would have seen to keep Barry on earth we would be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary together, if not longer. So how do you treat your spouse? your kids? your loved ones? What would you regret, if anything, if one of your loved ones was suddenly taken from you? Are you constantly irritated at your husband or wife? Constantly yelling at your kids? Ticked off at your co-workers and talking behind their back? How do you treat the retail clerks where you shop? Its very thought provoking. I try very hard to treat everyone with kindness, but sometimes life just gets in the way and its easy to snap or get impatient. I know I don't want the regret of knowing I never told my friends or loved ones just exactly how much they mean to me. I would hope that all my friends and family know that I treasure them , no matter what happens. I know we all don't tell them every day, but still, they know. I know that when Barry passed away, he knew that I loved him unconditionally, and I knew he felt the same about me. We had no secrets from each other, there was nothing to confess, no wrongs to make right. The more I think about this, the more I realize how God had blessed my marriage and continues to bless me. But obviously we are humans and we snap, or make a snide comment here or there, never knowing, possibly the effect we can have on people. I remember my sister writing in her blog, after her car accident about a woman in the grocery store who made a rude comment to her and it absolutely devastated her. She was already in a tender mood about things and recovering emotionally from her car accident as well as physically. I'm sure that lady never knew how deeply she hurt my sister that day. Never crossed her mind. But my sister sure remembers it. On the other hand, one day I was in the grocery store years ago and some total stranger came up to me and said, "That dress looks so pretty on you.". Did it make my day? You betcha! And that was YEARS ago, and still I remember it. So, I will try to do better every day. I will try to tell those I cherish how much they mean to me. I will take time to smile at the people in the stores and walking in my neighborhood. Because you never know. You just never know.