What Loss Gives

"My Dream is of a Place and time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth."

-Abraham Lincoln

Images by Gene Sasse

"Youth is not entirely a time of life: it is a state of mind. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt: as young as your self-confidence; as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair."

-General Douglas Mac Arthur



Easy Does It™  Rose



"...when we lose someone in our family - especially if the loss is unexpected. We're shaken from our routines, and forced to look inward. We reflect on the past. Did we spend enough time with an aging parent, we wonder. Did we express our gratitude for all the sacrifices they made for us? Did we tell a spouse just how desperately we loved them, not just once in awhile but every single day?

So sudden loss causes us to look backward - but it also forces us to look forward, to reflect on the present and the future, on the manner in which we live our lives and nurture our relationships with those who are still with us. We may ask ourselves if we've shown enough kindness and generosity and compassion to the people in our lives. Perhaps we question whether we are doing right by our children, or our community, and whether our priorities are in order. We recognize our own mortality, and are reminded that in the fleeting time we have on this earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame - but rather, how well we have loved, and what small part we have played in bettering the lives of others. "

- President Barack Obama

Loss gives us perspective. It reminds of of the temporal and precious nature of life.

God bless Tuscon. In the wake of unspeakable tragedy, many stupid things were said at the outset. Such is the nature of grief. It is unfortunate that modern communication has broadcast words best forgotten. "Forgiveness is divine." It is also appreciated.

Today Montana Becky sent me a note. It included a thought for the day:" If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it." What a nice thought. To be so special to God as to have Him save a spot for my picture. I hope it isn't one of the fat ones):-