It’s been quite a week in the life of our nation. The dust had not even begun to settle from the Boston Marathon tragedy on Monday when reports spilled in that President Obama had received mail with a threatening substance on Tuesday.
And then, last night the town of West Texas (near Waco) was almost completely destroyed by an explosion at a fertilizer plant, leaving 15 dead and 160 injured.
Wow!
Heartbreaking!
I wanted to jump out of bed, run into each room of my sleeping family members, wake them up, and hug them tightly.
These three events were as random, on the most random days, at the most random times as any other tragedy our nation has experienced. It brings me to terms with a striking reality: this could happen to anyone, at anytime, during any day of the week.
We never know what lies around the corner. Life is fragile. Life is fleeting. Time could expire at any moment. We do not get do-overs with mortality. Therefore, hug the ones you love. Embrace your wife or husband every day. Kiss your precious children’s foreheads any time you have the chance. Spend quality time with your close friends. Let them know how much they mean to you.
I realize, personally, that it shouldn’t take a tragedy like The Boston Marathon, or West Texas to remind me of this. I should be doing this every single day I’m blessed to have my family and friends. But like so many, I forget, get busy, focus my efforts on other things, and the day slips away. I’ve got deadlines to meet, work to complete, meetings to lead and attend, and tasks to check off.
If anything, the tragedies of this week should cause us to stop. We should use their reality as a catalyst that drives us to connect with our loved ones every day we’re alive. We need to take a moment and hug the people we love. We must hold them close. In tragic times or peaceful times. Through desperate moments or moments of happiness. Out of brokenness or out of wholeness.
We simply do not know when our last moment here on earth will arrive.
Question: What are your personal thoughts or feelings on a week like this? Share in the comment section.
