The last two weeks have caused to me re evaluate the way I look at the opportunities I've had and clearly missed. I've visited a family member and instead of finding the vibrant woman she once was I found a tiny framed woman with a blank stare because of the disease Alzheimer's. I've asked myself many times since that day 2 weeks ago "Why did I wait so long? Why didn't I push for more information as to where she was?" Now, tonight instead of having another opportunity to visit her and chatting about days past I will visit a funeral home. I can't get that time back. I messed up and will live with that the rest of my life.
On Saturday I visited two friends. Before leaving home I printed out a couple of sunflower photos and framed them to carry one to each of them. My first stop was to visit my friend Steve. This man lay in his bed with a sweet smile on his face that only that wonderful peace of God can provide. He's dying and he knows it. His body has been ravaged by a neuromuscular disease. Last week he made the choice to stop all tube feedings etc and asked to be allowed to go on to better things. I wondered if he's ever thought of missed opportunities prior to landing in that wheelchair for the last 5-10 years. Yet, I know from watching him over the years that he didn't miss opportunities to share his infectious smile and wonderful attitude on life. He took every opportunity he had to make someone's day. It made me ashamed of myself and the time I've wasted and the opportunities I've let slip away. Especially, the times I meant to visit him and never got around to. Sure, I'd stop in at the market to talk with him but I didn't make time to visit him. I left him that day with a kiss on the forehead and an I love you Steve and an ache in my heart because I knew I'd missed so many opportunities to let him know I really cared.
Later, I drove to the next little town to visit my friend Judy. She's been in the hospital for a couple weeks but I told myself I'll get there and I never did. When I walked in the room I found a woman that really didn't look like my friend has in years. Instead, I could see she found it hard to breathe, her face was swollen, the sparkle in her eyes was gone, and I don't know if it will ever return. Our time together was good and I was so glad I had put all other things aside to pick her some sunflowers and go visit her.
Since those three visits ,I've pondered in my heart and mind all of those missed opportunities. It's also made me look at my life and re evaluate the way I spend my time and the things that I've placed too much value on. What about you? Are you missing opportunities? Is there someone you know that needs a visit, a phone call, or just a card in the mail? Let us each purpose in our hearts and minds to never miss an opportunity again.
