The length of your days ........

 “The length of your days does not belong to you.” 

― Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper

Days past so quickly.  It's harder and harder to believe that it's been more than a year now.  It hasn't gotten easier as time passes.  

As a mother, you work hard to leave a legacy behind for your children.  You never plan or expect that your child will leave with the legacy first.  Several years ago Em and I got matching tattoos of ";" for those suffering from depression so bad that they took their lives.  I added a dash before mind.  The dash which now reads for her April 28, 1994 - May 6, 2020.  That dash represents the life she lived.  In print it is such a small symbol of someone's life.  There may be many years or short years but it remains a symbol of the years lived.  Even though the number of years for Em was small it was powerful!! More powerful than I ever realized.  It warms my heart to know that in the days she was struggling, she was always there for her friends.  Not only did she touch people she knew, she touched many that never knew her, by her strength to overcome the impossible.  To overcome her darkest day!!!   One year later, I still get messages from people saying how much she was there for them and what a bright light she was to this world filled with darkness.

 

James 4:14 “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.  What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

We’ve all been told that we don’t know the number of our days.  As the quote says, the length of our days does not belong to you.  How true that is when you lose a child.  The loss is so deep and painful no words can describe.  Each time I hear of a child that has died, my heart literally breaks for the parents.  You want to take that hurt away, to protect them of what will come in the following days, months and years.  Each day I shed tears.  Some days more than others.  Many days I have to stop myself and put that wall up.  It’s something you learn to do just to survive.

So many times when we talked about others losing children we say “I just can’t imagine”.  Unfortunately I can’t say that anymore and truly don’t know what to say in return. Because I don’t have to imagine, I know.

There is so much in life right now that is uncertain.  What was important before Em passed, is not as important now.  What is important is family and friends.  We are so quick to say that “I just didn’t have time”.  Well I am here to tell you to make time.  When your child ask you to hold them, hold them.  When they ask to play with you or to watch a movie with them make time.  For there is nothing more precious in our lives right now than time.

“There is a reason God limits our days’ Why? To make each one precious.”  Mitch Albom

“We cannot stop what Heaven chooses.”  Mitch Albom

Don and Em daddy daughter dance was to “Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman.  When I picked the song, I didn’t think it would end up being so prophetic.

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone