Thinking about the Things that Matter

This morning I’m typing this actually in the afternoon in Copenhagen. It’s been a whirlwind week with a quick trip to Omaha for a family emergency, followed by one day at home, and then the overnight flight to Denmark for a conference. I’m weary … emotionally and physically.

Sometimes life is like that.

Last week, I hurried home to Nebraska Friday to be with my baby brother and his girls as he had to make some very hard decisions related to his wife. We prayed, and many of you joined us, for her complete healing, but that came in the form of her stepping into heaven on Sunday afternoon. It was way too early. She was only forty-one. But her body was worn out from a years-long battle with illness. That doesn’t make it any easier for us to say good-bye.

Eric and I have this commitment to living with no regrets. That means doing the inconvenient. Making the hard work of rearranging the calendars and showing up. That means that when the hard happens, we can look back and know that we did everything we could. We said everything we should have. And there are no regrets. I’d share photos of my sister-in-law, but being out of the country complicates everything.

This week I’m encouraging everyone to hug their kids. I’m enjoying every moment with mine and trying hard not to take for granted the moments I have with them. I’m also reminding myself and others that there is no timeline to grief. That this is part of the process.

So take a moment and let someone important to you know you love them today. We don’t do that often enough. Today’s a good day to do just that.