From the heart..... Claudette
As I sit alone at the close of the day, the evening shadows falling around me. I watch the sun descend into an endless ocean of gentle rolling waves.
My eyes behold a sky ablaze with mingled colors of pinks, blues and purples, which hold me breathless and in awe at their magnificence.
Soft waves gently rolling to the shore, their sound a symphony of music to my ears. I close my eyes and breathe deeply the smell of fresh salty air. It fills my senses and I feel truly fortunate to be alive to experience this closing of the day.
A gentle breeze softly touches my face and seems to caress me like the warmth of a tender embrace. Somehow, I imagine that the breath of God must embrace exactly this way and somehow I feel that HE has placed me here at this particular moment in time to enjoy such beauty.
In this peaceful, quiet time, so rare in lives today, my mind wonders back over my life. Reflections of special times consume my thoughts and my heart is filled to overflowing for in my short life I have been so richly blessed to have had the opportunity to experience these indelibly placed memories.
To recall the sweetest memories of my childhood, such as the tender feel of my mother's lips as she kissed my forehead, soothed my brow and wished me sweet dreams. I can still hear the melody of her singing a particular song as she ironed clothes or cooked in the kitchen.
My sister and I as we lay in bed giggling, laughing, and sharing secrets long into the night. The special bond that she and I have and knowing that God had truly blessed my life by placing her in it.
The robust sound of my father's laughter and the same ritual words of prayer he spoke as we all sat down to our evening meal.
I can still picture my younger brother's smile when he had gotten away with mischief and I remember how we always owed him favors.
How vividly I recall the wonderfully magical sound of my three sons cries as they emerged into this world and the love, tenderness, and protective feelings of a mother as their tiny bodies were placed in my arms for the very first time.
The years of seeing them grow up, their first steps, first laughs, and all of the many other firsts in their lives. I still remember the physical ache of emptiness that I felt the day they left home, a steady stream of tears falling as I realized that my life had changed dramatically and knowing it would never be the same again.
How the years go so quicky and how time waits on no one.
I smile at the memory of my first kiss and the boy who just happened to be the preacher's son.
The memory of a lovers first caressing touch, gentle smile, and tender kiss.
The amazing thing to me is that whether we are 5 years old or 75, life is still filled with beauty and awe and learning and experiencing new things, but only if we allow ourselves that luxury.
And yet, while we find it hard to glean anything good which comes out of the pains and sorrows of life, pain is something which we all must experience. It is this pain that allows us to grow and learn the invaluable lessons in life.
For it is from these times of sadness that tears fall and it is these tears which tender our hearts and makes us capable of caring and feeling. For how could we truly appreciate the wonderful times in life if we had not experienced the hard times as well?
Many great minds have explored and pondered life and it's meaning. I place myself not in that category by any means and I have no magical keys which opens this mystery called life. Nor, would I be presumptuous in thinking that everyone shares my opinions.
My only conclusions to and about life come from being human and my own experiences in this short time alotted me by my Maker.
Live each day as if it's your last, for each day is truly a gift from God.
We are guaranteed no tomorrows.
Love others totally, fully, deeply, passionately and selflessly.
For only in giving this special kind of love to others
can we truly be loved to this extent in return.
If we pass through this life with out knowing love,
we have missed the meaning of our very existence.
Show kindness to others in word and deed for a smile costs us nothing
and can be given freely, showing compassion, caring and concern for our fellow man.
Look inside the heart of one to find the real person within for we all walk the same hardened path in this life.
The difference is that some people make this world a "special place" just by being in it.
True friends are more precious than gold.
For they are the helping hands along our way
which makes our walk here on earth easier.
Only in being a true friend to others
can this kind of friendship be given to us in return.
The entire sum of human existence is the "magic" of feeling special and needed and loved.
Above all else, I thank God, "My Maker", for my very being.
I feel humbled at His love for me.
There is no love greater in all the world than
"The Love HE Has Given Us All."
As I see it our "Life" is a preparation for a journey,
filled with growing, caring, and learning to love.
"Death" is only the opening door for our beginning journey into eternity.
We only have one chance at living this life.
Give it your best effort and enjoy it to the fullest.
And When It's Over,
" Have No Regrets."
My personal "HOPE" is that when my short stay here is over,
I would have made a difference in someones elses life.
That I will be remembered with fondness, love, and a smile.
And my Prayer?
That when I stand before God,
HE will say,
"A Job Well Done"
