I have a friend whose best friend was murdered this week. She was only 48. My friend’s sorrow is compounded by the feeling that she left things unsaid and undone. I’ve been thinking about that and I’m sure that if I happened to lose someone close to me unexpectedly, I would have the same response. It makes me want to do things differently. I was reminded about something I shared on here a few years ago. It seems applicable now:
Several years ago I met a homeless man named Ricky. I see him almost every weekend on Third Street and he always comes over to chat. He has come to church with me several times and whenever he meets somebody that he thinks I can help, he will call me. It has been an unexpected friendship. One Friday night a couple of months ago I saw Ricky on Third Street and as usual he came over to visit for a while. And just out of the blue he began to share some kind words about how our friendship had affected his life. I didn’t really know what to say in response so I just stood there for a few moments in silence. He said “when people die, their friends and family will have flowers sent to the funeral home. The flowers will be laid on top of their grave but that person will never experience any enjoyment from those flowers. I wanted to give you a flower now.”
I think about these words often….and about how easy it is to leave things unsaid, sometimes until it is too late to say them. Don’t wait…..give out some flowers today.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. (1 John 4:7)
He is my Delight 