A Candle in the Wind

Light a candle and watch it slowly burn.  Protect the flame with a lantern or your cupped hands and it burns on until there is nothing left.  As the wax melts, it fuels the flame that flickers on the wick.  When there is nothing left, the candle is gone and you are left with the memory of that glowing light.  Now, imagine either yourself or someone that you love deeply as that candle.  Life is the same way.  Each moment of  each minute of each hour of each day, we step out into the world and our flame flickers with everything we do.  We are physically protected by an endless list of man made things, but ultimately, we are shrouded in a Heavenly veil of protection until it is time for our flame to die out.  None of us knows when or how, only God knows that, down to the moment.

There was a movie made a few years ago about a time machine.  In the story, the time traveler loses his wife in a terrible accident.  With the knowledge that he possesses, he continually goes back to just before it happens and tries to change things so that his wife doesn't die.  It takes multiple efforts with the same end result for him to realize that he cannot change destiny.  He can only change the "how".

It's heartbreaking and overwhelmingly sad when it happens.  You want to curl up and cave in to the grief.  Shock and disbelief become a part of your existence for a while.  The knot in your throat tightens and you feel as if you can't stop the tears.  It's okay.  Let it happen.  It has to come out.

You continually ask yourself and others, and even God, WHY.  When someone is suffering from an illness, you have time to prepare yourself.  Yet when it happens, you still look back at it all and simply ask, why.  But, you knew because of what was happening, that it was coming.  It still doesn't make it any easier.

I think, no, I know, that the unexpected loss takes our breath away.  It grabs our heart and holds it so tightly that we feel as if we can't breathe.We've had no time to prepare for it.  It has just happened and when it does, the coping becomes unbearable.

It is okay to be sad.  It is okay to cry and it is okay to grieve and miss the one that is gone.  We all deal with it in different ways.  Some of us can't seem to stop crying.  Others get mad.  Some even jump into action and start doing anything and everything that we can to keep ourselves busy and our minds occupied.  We are just not ready to accept the loss yet.

Today, the loss is not mine, but I am so very close to those that are experiencing it and my heart breaks for all of them.

So, for the rest of you, you never know.  You just never know.  Hug and kiss your children, your husband or wife, your parents, brothers, sisters, friends.  Hold on for that extra moment every opportunity that you have, because you never know when that last hug or that last cuddle will be the last time that you get to hold that person in your arms.  If you are at odds with someone that was once a part of your life, make peace with  them, because you never know when it might be too late.  Live from your heart, not your hurt.  Take time this day and everyday to tell the people in your life that you love them.  Don't take a moment for granted, because it could be the last chance you have to let them know just how special they are to you.

Live, love and take the time to bless someone else's life with the knowledge that you care.  Don't let the sun rise or set without telling the one that you love what they mean to you.

A candle in the wind, the flame flickers and in that brief moment, it's gone.

I think maybe we all need to take a few moments out of our day now and make some phone calls, hug our loved ones.  Tell them you love them, tell them you care.  You will make their day that much more special and should it be the last thing, you will know in your heart that you made it the right thing.

You are my blessing, and I send you on to live your day with love and know that you are in my heart now and always,
K