Say it NOW!!!!

Yesterday, I attended a funeral of a cousin who was 7 years older than me, we share the same middle name and our mothers were first cousins.

Let me say that this was the oddest funeral I have ever been to.

While sitting in the pew at the funeral home I realized that the music being played was country music. It was bar hopping music, beer drinking music. No hymns, no soft, comforting music
no Amazing Grace is played.

I hadn't seen Tammy in quite a few years so I didn't really know how she lived her life. From attending the funeral I assume that Tammy liked to have a good time, play loud country music and party. She and her family are/were into the rodeo scene, I believe they had a box at the Mesquite Rodeo or something. At the grave site--a cowboy rode in Parade Dress leading a riderless horse with Tammy's name on it.

During the service a slide show and video interviews were shown. This is what struck me as odd...in the videos the family members talked to Tammy as if she were still alive. For example, we'll see you soon, I love you and I'm going to miss you, thank for the memories.

Now I am NOT criticizing or judging anyone. Everyone deals with death, loss and grief in totally different ways. I was sitting there watching these interviews thinking, "Why didn't you tell her this stuff when she was here" or "did you tell her this stuff when she was here"? "Why are you waiting until she's dead to say these things"?

Then it got me to thinking...How many of us actually do this with our family? How many times do we regret not saying I love you to someone we care deeply about? When it's too late, we can think of so many things we want to say.

Why not act like it's too late and go ahead and say those things to our loved ones? Write a letter, email, text, call or meet for lunch.

I have 3 younger sisters, although I look younger, I have decided that I am going to do just that. I am going to call them, email, text and get together with them for lunch. Now they won't like it because they seem to feel as though I am always judging/preaching to them. I think they are being convicted and don't like that feeling.

You mention God to them and they can't get out the door or off the phone fast enough!!! But if I truly love them I will let them know that I do, and that there is someone who loves them even more than I do!

So, May the words of my mouth...be pleasing in your sight (and not confrontational).