You don't know what you've got

Wednesday, May, 30, 2007

by John Fischer How fast the mind works, especially when it imagines the worst. Any parent knows this. My wife still counts heads every time a siren goes off. And it doesn't seem to matter how old your kids are. It still happens. Our 28-year-old son is currently living in a room we built into the garage. Even though it is separate from the main part of the house, we see him a lot because our office and an extra bathroom are also there. Plus, he loves us and checks in often. One morning last week when I went over to use the shower, I noticed the lights on and his bed made. That wasn't too unusual in that he sometimes sleeps over with friends, but then he usually gives us a courtesy call. What really got me going, however, was the fact that his wallet, keys and cell phone were all in his room, and his car was parked outside where it usually is. The only thing I could figure was that he was out jogging. And then it hit me. Why was everything so neat and in order in his room? Why didn't he come over and say good night last night like he usually does? Why did his room look like he never slept there? What if he hadn't? That would open up the plausibility that he could have gone jogging the night before and never come back. As soon as that thought entered my brain, I was a goner. A rush of what-ifs and their accompanying emotions flooded my head. The amazing thing was how powerless I was to stop this. It was like trying to shut off a faucet stuck in the "on" position with a broken valve. I could pray, but I couldn't stop the emotions. I immediately had him in the hospital or the morgue with no ID. Fifteen seconds later I was planning the funeral and wondering how to get my daughter back from Colorado. She'd be too distraught to drive. And it's amazing when this happens to you, how real it is. It seems like its really happening and the feelings seem like real emotions. All I know is that when I heard his voice talking on his cell phone later, while I was in the shower, a wave of relief came over me, and the hug I greeted him with later took him a little by surprise. I had been right to suspect a jog, and thank goodness it was a morning one. Joni Mitchell sang, "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone." To which I would add, you don't know what you've got until you think it's gone. You've heard this before, I'm sure, but we can never hear it too often. Hug the people you love today extra hard, and tell them you are glad they are alive. Every moment we have with someone is precious. Lord, wake us up to the value of our moments together. Copyright  2007 by John Fischer

I posted this in it entirety, because it says so much about our Love for those close to us. If we can extend that lover further and further each day what a wonderful world this could be.