To Realize The Value of Something…
I received the following email from my brother-in-law this morning, and I just loved it because it encompasses such tremendous wisdom. Why? For one to know the real value of something, a person must experience the pain of losing something of importance. Sadly, it is not a lesson that once learned, you never have to be taught that lesson again. We humans tend to take things for granted. We think that just because a person, or thing was there yesterday, and it was there today…that it will be there tomorrow.
It seemed ironic to me that my brother-in-law, Kenny, sent this out. Just a year ago last May, Kenny was fighting for his life. Doctors had discovered that he had kidney cancer and had to have the kidney removed. Following surgery, his developed a post- surgery infection that landed him in ICU for thirty-plus days. It was so dire; a priest was called in to give Kenny his last rites.
God granted Kenny a miracle. On one of his worst days, and perhaps hours away from dying…God sent an angel into his room dressed as a nurse. She noticed, what countless others failed to notice, that Kenny was suffering from sepsis, a severe blood infection. She alerted doctors of her findings and they began a more aggressive treatment regimen.
Perhaps it was the power of hundreds of prayers being said each day over Kenny by his family, friends, neighbors, and fellow parish members. There were prayer chains formed and complete strangers prayed for God to spare Kenny. Perhaps it was my Rabbi friend in Israel who asked two righteous men who were visiting religious sites around Galilee to ask God to intercede. Perhaps it was simply the fact that Kenny is just a grumpy old man too stubborn to die.
In any event, Kenny was not wheeled out of that ICU with a sheet over him. This very day, he is down in Hilton Head on vacation with his daughter, Tina, and her family. He is enjoying the sand, sun, and ocean…but more importantly, he is enjoying his family.
Take a minute to read the following, and then take stock of your own situation. This might be the best two minute time investment you make today. I wish I knew the author so I could attribute it to him, or her.
To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.
To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.
To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.
To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.
To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize
The value of one second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.
To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.
