In a second……
everything permanently changes.
There are so many reminders happening all around us every day of how quickly life ends. If it’s not the virus, it’s accidents or violence in the streets. I can’t help thinking about the family, friends and co-workers who are being left behind. Because that’s my story – left behind. Every idea of what we thought our future was to going to be has literally crashed and burned.
This brings me back to where I was when my son, David Glasser, who was a Phoenix Police Officer, was killed – in a second – in the line of duty. May 18, 2016 – a date seared into my soul. When I hear the news of the latest tragedy, I find myself visiting that deep, dark place of pain, grief and loss once again.
I don’t know the specifics of other people’s situations, but I know the feelings. I know the searing pain as reality seeps through the fog. I know the hope each morning that it was all just a nightmare. I know the constant reminders of all that has been lost. I know the swirling. I know the emptiness.
If you’ve experienced this kind of tragedy, you know it, too.
The good news is that God has helped me learn how to just visit that dark place. I’m not stuck there. I can feel it, recognize it, pray for those that have joined me on this road of recreating what my future looks like but I’m not staying in yesterday. God has a purpose for leaving me here and that’s what I need to focus on. I can’t focus on all I have lost…..there’s too much. It’s too big. It’s so painful.
These days I am often reminded again how short life is. I am reminded how precious life is. I am reminded how quickly people can be gone. I’m reminded of how quickly I could be gone.
I am reminded of some of the game-changing things I have learned these last 4 years since Davey left us –
Life is short – forgive others, love others, cherish your time with them. Always put God and people before ‘stuff’ and money.
No regrets – go, do, see (when it’s safe). Don’t put things off. Deal with conflict positively or let it go. Don’t stop talking to people when you’re mad at them – you may never get another chance to say ‘love you”.
Love is the answer – Love has a magical quality that comes straight from God. Love first and worry about all the other stuff later. Our lives will be empty unless we fill them with love. We don’t want to miss the chances we have to love others and add something meaningful to their lives.
Davey had it so right when he made sure the last thing he said to anyone he cared about was ‘love you’. It’s now years later and we are all still blessed by his last words to us as they echo through our hearts and minds.
Miss you, Davey.
Love you.
Leave a Reply