Making Each Moment Count

Six years ago, my husband of 33 years passed away unexpectedly.  It was the darkest, saddest time of my life.  Even though our marriage was far from perfect, we loved each other very much and I have many wonderful memories of our years together.  Coming from less than perfect families, however, we brought a lot of baggage into our marriage that was not helpful.  We were two wounded people trying to help one another as we struggled through difficult times.  It is hard to help someone else, however...when you have no clue how to help yourself. 

Over the past years, I have done a lot of reflecting on my marriage...the "should haves" and the "could haves"...knowing that the past is the past and there is nothing I can do about any of it now.  I would like to offer this advice to other married couples out there:  MAKE EACH MOMENT COUNT.

Time passes by so quickly.  When you are young, a lifetime can seem so far away, but a lifetime can be shorter than you imagine.  None of us are granted one more day on this earth.  All of those things you dream of doing together "someday"?  Do them now.  Don't wait until tomorrow to express your love.  Do it now.

When my husband died, I found comfort in reading my Bible.  To my surprise, I found that my husband had tucked little love notes within the pages of my Bible.  They were notes of encouragement, romantic notes, notes to make me laugh.  They were tucked in random places in my Bible, just waiting for the day I would open that particular page.  I don't know exactly when he placed the little notes in my Bible...but I cherish them with all of my heart.  I later found that he had not only tucked notes in the one Bible...but in ALL four of my Bibles.  To this day, I have not read all of them.  I am still finding them, and reading them through my smiles and tears.

What my husband did demonstrated love to me.  He took a lot of time to write those little notes and hide them away just so I would be surprised...just so I would be encouraged and feel his love with me. It is important in relationships do go the extra mile and do little things to show how much you care.  Don't waste a moment of this life that is so precious and so fragile.  MAKE EACH MOMENT COUNT.