About 10 years ago my Grandmother was ill. She had been feeble for a decade before that, but this time we sensed it was nearing the end. I told Tara that we needed to go visit her. So we did; all the way down to Laurel, Mississippi. It was precious to see our 3 children at the time interact with a spirited but feeble woman. And it was great to look her in the eyes to tell her we loved her.
But about 30 minutes into the visit, she busted us. She said, “Y’all are just here cause you think I’m gonna die.” She was right. So I admitted it. There was no point in beating around the bush. “I’m pretty sure we all will, Grandmother, but you’re probably going a bit quicker than the rest of us.” We conversed pleasantly about it from then on.
Now my siblings will give me grief for writing this, and hopefully it will spur laughter and conversation among us rather than frustration, but within a few weeks of each other, they will all have visited us. In the back of our minds, we wonder if they are visiting for the same reason we visited Grandmother. I mean we do that, right? Maybe we never even verbalize it because we feel bad to say it. A simple back-of-mind notion moves us to do the thing we know we should do.
Or maybe, just a wake up call like this moves us to do the things we know we should do, and is otherwise too hard. That sounds more like it. We appreciate what we have when we realize we could lose it. We long to express our love to the people who mean the most to us. That is what our family and friends are doing, and we are very grateful for it.
Perspectives From The Tree Tops 
You know it IS Summer… and school is out…:). I won’t give you grief for saying this…I am, however, looking forward to many more seasonal visits with you, your kids and Tara. 🙂 Love you bro!
Tara and Jay, I read I’m my devotional the following : FOLLOW ME ONE STEP AT A TIME. That is all I require of you.in fact, that is the only way to move through this space/time world. You see huge mountains looming,and you start wondering how you are going to scale those heights. Meanwhile, because you’re not looking where you’re going, you stumble on the path I am leading you now. As I help you get back on your feet, you tell me how worried you are about the cliffs up ahead. But you don’t know what will happen today,much less tomorrow. Our path may take an abrupt turn leading you away from those mountains. There may be an easier way up the mountain than is visible from this distance. IF I DO LEAD YOU UPVTHSE CLIFFS I WILL EQUIP YOU THOROUGHLY for the strenuous climbing will give my angels charge over you in all your ways. Keep your mind on the present journey enjoying MY PRESENCE. walk by faith,not by sight, trusting ME. To open up the way before you. Psalm. 118:29, 19:11-12,2corinthians 5:7 This devotional taken from ” Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. I found this so helpful during a time of need in my life and pray this speaks peace to you.
We all take so much for granted: life, love, health, spouse, children, job. You are living intensely, as we all should.