The other day at work I conversed with a man. We spoke about food since he was waiting while I prepared the food samples. He excitedly explained how his mom made the best lemon
moraine pie. He and his father loved it when his mom made the pie and often asked
her to prepare it. Apparently it was so good that the man’s father asked for
his wife to make the pie while he was on his deathbed.Upon his request, the
man’s mom rushed home to make the pie. She tried to prepare it as quickly as
possible because she knew that her husband had little time to live. She
baked the pie quickly but with care. She then rushed back over to the hospital,
parked the car and dashed through the hallways to the hospital room to give her
husband his dying wish. However, he
never got to eat the pie... He died before she could get it to him.
The man said that until this day,
his mom still regrets not being able to get the pie to her husband in time; she has not forgiven herself. Her husband
had been asking her to make pie for months, but she never felt like it,
and she never did. When she finally did make it however, it was too late.
Lesson learned:
This story really hit me
emotionally because it demonstrates how life is short and unpredictable, which
is why we should never take for granted or skip the chance to love, to show
love and to serve our loved ones. Don’t miss the opportunity to tell someone
you love them, don’t miss the opportunity to perform an act of kindness, don’t
miss the chance to spend time with those you love, and don’t take for granted
the time your loved ones have here on Earth. That one moment where you
refrained from showing your love may just be your last chance. Don’t do away
with simple acts of kindness. Don’t miss the opportunity to do even the
smallest, most simple actions, because these actions may mean the world to
someone who loves you.
Yes, it may often be inconvenient
to spend time doing kind things for those we love, but this inconvenience is
wherein love lays. When we direct our
thoughts and attention towards the happiness of someone else, when we direct
our efforts towards the happiness of someone else, and most importantly, when
we put forth our time towards the happiness of someone else, it is a true
expression of love; it is love. Love is many things: humility, understanding, respect, caring, passion, compassion, support, friendship, partnership and faith. But love is also
sacrifice.
Sacrifice is not negative in
the name of true, sincere love, particularly when the sacrifice is equally
shared. To give of yourself to another and he/she to you is the most freeing,
transcending and uplifting opportunity we have here on this Earth today. So
please, don’t miss the chance to express your love to your loved ones because
you never know if this moment will be your last opportunity to do so.
And remember, YOU ARE ALIVE TO THRIVE!!
