Every day, an estimated 151,600 people die. Each of these individuals, even the most ruthless barbarians, share at least one element in common: they were all loved by at least one other human being on this planet. In nearly every situation, loved ones of the deceased feel that the dead were stripped from the earth "too soon."
Unfortunately, I cannot answer the interrogating questions that torment most of the earth's inhabitants. I do not understand why children are ripped from their parents' arms while terrorists are permitted to linger and threaten the world. I cannot comprehend why young kids are forced to grow up without knowing the loving touch of their parents who were killed in a dreadful accident. I cannot fathom why the significant others of teenagers and adults alike are forced to part with the earth, leave a gaping hole in the hearts of their better half.
However, I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. While it almost always feels unfair to lose someone you love, their purpose on this soil has been fulfilled at the time of their last breath. The grief you feel when a loved one passes away is the bitter reminder they influenced and shaped your life in one way or another. The evidence is left in the memories that you shared with that person.
I cannot sugarcoat the immensity of the pain you will feel when a loved one passes away, but I can remind you that their impact in your life will always remain. Little by little, the memories will haunt you, both gloomily and pleasantly. At times, these recollections may seem like a depressing nuisance that will make you crave the presence of the person you lost.
You will become jealous of people who still can hold their parents in their arms and spend holidays with them. You will envy the people who are still able to kiss their boyfriend or girlfriend each morning before work. You will resent the brothers and sisters who can still fight their silly sibling feuds. On the other hand, you also will be joyfully reminded of the role your loved one played in your life. You will smile to yourself when you hear their favorite song on your ride home from a horrible day at work. You will beam with happiness when you watch the sun set over the mountains and decorate the sky with rich colors, as you had done so many times with your loved one in the past. You will gleefully giggle when you think about the inside jokes that you had shared while they were alive. I can remind you that every time you long for your loved one, they will be with you in spirit.
Furthermore, each time you face adversity or a near-death experience, your loved one will be holding your hand and protecting you, whether you realize it or not. You may think their impact in your life terminated when their heart stopped beating, but the reality is they are still helping you over the hills of life. They are directing you down the path you are destined to travel, and they are deliberately helping you leave your own footprints and impact on the world.
So, the next time you miss your loved one more than words can describe, take a look at the world around you and find peace with the guidance they gave you while they were still alive. Preserve your reminiscent recollections of your loved one while constructing a new space for the memories of your future relationships. Commemorate your loved one by altering lives with the lessons you learned from them. Honor them by continuing to chase the dreams you had discussed while your loved one was alive. Most importantly, never forget the power you hold in your hands to change lives for the better, just as your loved one has done for you. Whether you are prepared or not, one day your time to become one of the 151,600 chosen people will arrive... and it will always seem "too soon."
