Perspective...

"...this is a place where I don't feel alone..."

It's been close to one year that this man lost his wife to cancer.  As a testament to enduring life and love, today...he and his kids celebrated her birthday and with his permission, I share this now.  It is one of the most moving things I've ever read for many different reasons...yet one thing stands out more than any other.  Perspective is a powerful cure to many ailments...

"Last year we celebrated your birthday at Vic and Anthony’s restaurant in Atlantic City. The meal was delicious, our table was next to Jackie Ward trauma/PACU RN, the weather was bitter cold, we then walked around Borgata casino because we loved to people watch. It would be our last official date and this our last picture taken together. If we could go back to last year and you told me I have one week left with you, I wouldn’t have taken a bite of that meal. I would’ve stayed awake every minute of every day just to cherish what precious little time was left. You could’ve crash- course taught me to speak Spanish or better yet you could’ve taught me how to cook. Instead I’ve spent the last year looking at photos but mostly watching all the home movies of us at the beach, you teaching the boys salsa, birthdays and holiday get-togethers, Ocean City Maryland footage ad nauseum. Today we went to Cherry Hill Mall (but didn’t see Santa like we typically did) but oddly enough I had coins to toss into the fountains to make a wish (past 3 or 4 years - no coins) and your memory was mentioned frequently. We got a big tree and small tree at Lowe’s and I cried right there because it hit me; over 12 years since I bought a tree on my own. We sang Happy Birthday to you and had cupcakes but intentionally no candles. Then we each wrote you a little note on 3 separate balloons and released them so you can read them in Heaven or use them for your party up there. Jaxson took today very hard, the most I’ve seen him cry since he was a baby. And now the day is over, another ‘first’ for me is in the books, but to hear your voice on the home it still seems like you just went out to the store and will be right back. We will never forget about today and what it represents. I look at this picture and I still can’t believe how my life changed just 7 days after this was taken. You are loved and missed more than you’ll ever know. Happy Birthday Diana..." 

I know the world is a big place but never allow the smaller the world that is you and your loved ones take a back seat to it.  Make an honest assessment of your life and take stock at how good of a friend you've been, how much you've invested as a spouse or how much love and guidance you've shown as a parent. In the end...these are the things we will be remembered for which is why your smaller world carries so much weight.  Live life and love...and live them well.  Much love...

~Moses