This week saw news of celebrity deaths almost daily. From my childhood the actor who played Grizzly Adams passed away. Thought of Saturday evenings in my pajamas, freshly bathed and ready for church flashed through my mind.
David Bowie, my teen years, admiring his artistry, but, not really a fan. But, his passing was sad. Knowing that his music will never be fresh from his creativity. I was saddened to hear that cancer took his life.
Alan Rickman, I will miss. His characters were all people I either loved to hate, or I just loved. I enjoyed the movies he made, and the characters he brought to life, he was a gifted actor and I am sad that I will no longer see new work from him.
All the families and friends of these people are in mourning. We, as a public can read and feel some emotion and then go on with our lives.
Wednesday of this week there was another death I read about. It is not one that was broadcast nationally. I first found out on Facebook. This death hit me hard and made me realize how very precious each life is. The person who died was a two-year old boy. I met his parents at a function this past fall. They were in town from Michigan for a ministry they have started that raises funds for families hit by devastating illnesses.
We were relatively new to the community when we attended this evening. We saw and met this couple and knew that they had children running around, but we actually did not know whose children were whose. It was just a fun night.
Last month some friends from our church did a surprise trip to Michigan to see this couple. They went up to celebrate the final adoption of a little boy this couple had fostered. I looked at the pictures of this child. There were smiles all around. You just felt good looking at these pictures. You knew it was a blessing in so many ways.
Wednesday afternoon this little boy was put down for a nap. A nap he did not wake up from. Today, I watched the funeral on a live stream. Eloquent words were spoken, and emotions were obvious. The parents were surrounded by people loving them, praying with them and supporting them.
I know they need all the support they can get now. Their world is rocked to the core. But, one thing was spoken during the service today that resonated deep within me. One of the pastors stated that, and I know I will say it wrong, but basically he said, that this boy lived his whole life. Even though his whole life was only two years.
He had lived his life. His life touched people. His life touched me and I just saw him one evening running around with several other children. This got me thinking today, how much is my life touching others?
I started this post out talking about celebrities. Their lives touched others though music, entertainment, movies. They touched others in their personal lives. Things we will never know about. Their families too, are rocked to the core of their beings. This little boy touched many people, all whom spoke and speak of his smile and his joy of life.
Life is precious. Each day I am alive I realize a bit more how precious life is. Since Wednesday all I have wanted to do is hug my grandchildren just to make certain they are okay. I want to take time to chat with friends. I want to make certain that, when it is time for me to meet the Lord that I will have touched and ministered to others who will be here.
Thanks for stopping by today and reading. I do so appreciate it. DAF
dearanonymousfriend 