Life Changes, In a Split Second

I wasn't planning on writing a blog tonight because it's getting so late.  However, the news has blown up today as we were informed of the verdict in the George Zimmerman case (Orlando friends and family, stay safe!).  Facebook was finally calming down when I got home past midnight, then it began blowing up again.  "Glee" star Cory Monteith has passed away at the age of 31, just one year younger than Dave.

It just shows us once again that life can change or end, in one second!  One second, you're alive and the next, you're gone forever.  Or in Zimmerman's case, even though the jury found him not guilty, his life has still changed in a split second.  You think he can walk down the streets of central Florida and not get harassed?  He's going to have to live incognito for many years.  And I definitely don't feel sorry for him but think if that was you?  If you had a normal life, then bam, you're now hated by half of America and can't be safe hardly anywhere.  Or in Trayvon's parents case, one minute they had a son and the next, their son was taken away from them.  In one second, Cory Monteith is no longer with us and his family, friends, and girlfriend Lea Michele now have to come to terms with their new normal.  On March 8, I was hugging and kissing my husband goodbye, then five hours later, I was sitting in a hospital in shock because I had just been told that he was gone and it's going to be awhile before I see him again.  My world, Dave's family and friends', and my family's world was turned upside down in a matter of a second.

I'm seeing what an impact Cory has made in his short life and four months ago, I saw what a legacy Dave has left behind.  It makes me think, if I were to die today, what would people say at my funeral?  Who all would show up?  Would people know how to treat each other during that time or would they wonder what I would think?  There are so many "what if's" in our lives, why don't we do what we can to get rid of those.  We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow.  Life is a very short but precious gift that God gives us so take advantage of every day!  Some people live every day in misery or just focus on all the bad that's in this world and how those of us who are believers in Christ shouldn't like being in this world.  I disagree!!  While I long for heaven and I can't wait for that glorious day, why dishonor God by wasting my life away?  God gives us life for a reason and He wants for us to use that time for His glory, which includes treating life like the amazing gift that He intends for it to be.

Dave and Cory lived a full life in their 31 and 32 years and I can tell you that Dave lived with very few regrets.  That's my new outlook for life: live with no regrets, even if that means trying something and failing.  At least I know people could say at my funeral "well, she messed up a LOT but look at what she got to experience" rather than "hmmmm, did Kate do anything special in her life?" Live every day like it's your last, that way when you take that last breath, you can be assured that your loved ones will have nothing but great memories to hold on to.  Thank you Dave for living that kind of life, it makes this situation easier knowing that you were a happy guy when you took that last breath :) now it's time for me to live that same way!