Reality Check

A few years ago, I heard a very wise person say this: "It is ironic that so often we treat perfect strangers better than we treat our loved ones." I will repeat that quote, because it bears repeating: "...so often we treat perfect strangers better than we treat our loved ones." That quote has stuck in my mind for a VERY long time, perhaps because it really stepped on my toes. That one sentence caused me to take a good, long, difficult look at myself. I realized at that moment that, when it comes down to it, our loved ones are all we really have in this life. And I also realized that those loved ones can be taken from you in an instant. In a split second, the ones you love the most can be gone from your life. Did they really know that you loved them? Did you say what you needed to say when you had the chance? Did you make them feel loved and treasured every single day? Most of us don't. Instead, we hold on to the frustrations and irritations of daily life, and we take them out on the ones who love us most...our spouses, our parents, our siblings, even our children. Why do we do that? Why do they deserve anything less than best that we have to give? Because we know that they will forgive us? Because we can make it up to them later? Because we know that they're not going anywhere? I'm here to tell ya, folks...they can leave. Not of their own accord, but because they can be taken from us at any time. ANY time. Stop and think about that for minute. That spouse who you fought with before work this morning may not make it home this afternoon. That child that you snapped at for no reason before bed last night may not be with you in the morning. They could be gone. No make-ups, no re-dos...GONE. Think for a moment about what that would mean to you. Cry for a moment (I did, and for more than a moment), and then realize that if you really love them, you have to treat them like gold while you have the chance. Give them your very best, not just what you have left over at the end of the day. Tell them what they mean to you, hug them, kiss them, learn to apologize (there I go, stepping on my own toes again), to make amends, to say what needs to be said, to love openly and without reservation. Learn to treat your loved ones better than strangers. The reality is, you may not have them tomorrow. So today, I am thankful for the time that I have with the people I love...and for reality checks.