Happy Birthday, Christine
Do the people you love know how much you love them?
"Love is a word.
What matters is the connection that word implies"
- The Matrix Revolutions
Do the words you choose to say to others, or not say, reflect love? Are you kind? Are you attentive? Do your actions show love?
At the beginning of this year, I had performed a wedding ceremony for a couple I had gotten to know quite well. In their ceremony, I pointed out that in the end, it is how they answered the following question with each setting sun that would determine the outcome of their marriage:
"How well did I love today?"
Reflecting back on my own life, I would have to say about my past that the answer was: "Not well." Then life took a turn, forcing me to take a good look at myself. I saw clearly who I was. I saw clearly who I wanted to be.
My Sister, Christine, would be celebrating her 40th birthday today.
I am sharing a poem with you that I wrote when she died three years ago.
I share it because it describes me then.
I share it, more importantly, because it does NOT describe me now.
Tomorrow’s Tears
Written by: Sherry Mullins
copyright August 2007
My sister will die tomorrow.
Twelve hours for her remain.
But now it is a secret.
She lives her life the same.
I have the thought to see her.
Should I stay or should I go?
I go about my busy day.
Just going with the flow.
I’ll go tomorrow, I tell myself.
All will be just fine.
I’m feeling not quite up to it.
She’ll understand this time.
The call comes in at midnight.
Cardiac Arrest.
Please come here to the hospital.
We’re trying to do our best.
When I get there, she’s unconscious.
She can’t see me or my tears.
I hold her hand a moment
As I swallow down my fears.
"Please step out. Her heart rate’s down."
Her doctor says to me.
It’s the last I’ll see her on this earth.
I beg and make my plea.
At six am it’s over.
There’s nothing they could do.
But I could have gone to see her,
A regret I’ll live anew.
Now here it is – tomorrow.
A day that’s filled with tears.
I whisper that “I’m sorry”
As it falls on her deaf ears.
So if there’s someone that you love,
Please tell them so today.
Don’t wait for your tomorrow.
It’s just too far away.
Most of us wait for loss and tragedy to transform us.
Why wait? Why not do it now.
Take the risk to truly, deeply, love and be loved.
Happy Birthday, Christine.
~Your Sister