Sometimes you read something, see something, hear something and it just stays with you.
Early this afternoon in Brisbane city centre there was a dramatic incident. Reports of a gunman, panic and evacuation. Thankfully the situation was under control pretty quickly but all of a sudden that thought of 'wrong place, wrong time' entered my head. I wasn't in any danger but it did make me pause and just for a second think about the unthinkable.
I try and live the moments as much as is practically possible, but it's easy to get sucked into everyday routines and expectations. I need to be reminded of a few things every now and again.
A few years ago I was sent this poem by my sister in law. I was at work so I quickly glanced over it. It wasn't a glancing over poem. If I'm honest, it stopped me in my tracks! It's a poem written by Erma Bombeck called 'If I had my life to live over'. (More information about Erma Bombeck HERE)
There's a line that just stuck in my head...and came to me again today.
"I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage"
I don't really know why this particular line, there are many others that resonated with me too, but this line has kept a voice in my head over time.
Christmas just gone there was a candle under my tree. A really nice candle...
For weeks I kept lifting the lid to catch that gorgeous smell.
The candle sat on the coffee table, it spent a little time on the mantlepiece, it moved on to the little table.
Then that line....
"I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage"
...I LOVE the smell of my candle
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
I would have talked
less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even
if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the
popcorn in the "good" living room and worried much less about the dirt when
someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the
time to listen to my grandfather rambling about his youth.
I would never
have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had
just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted
like a rose before it melted
in storage.
I would have sat on the lawn
with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried
and laughed less while watching television, and more
while watching
life.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick, instead of pretending the
earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I
would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show
soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine
months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment, realizing that the
wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a
miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said,
"Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I
love you's" and more "I'm sorry's"
. . . but mostly, given another shot
at life, I would seize every minute . . .
look at it and really see it . . .
and never give it back.
Happy Friday,
