A Dinosaur's Prayer

I'm reading several books at once (in case you could not tell) since there are only these few winter months during the year that I have time to read either as fun (not much) or as serious reads (most). In one of them that is about ecosystems mismanagement, agriculture/food, climate change, etc, etc, etc (yes, another depressing book), I saw this quick and 'cute' (i.e. sad) reference to the dinosaurs before their extinction.

"Please, just a little more time!" 

I am not going to do any more referencing to that/those depressing books right now, but in honor of Valentine's Day and all those 'kith and kin' we love (a term new to me that I learned in one of my current books which means 'friends and relatives'), I will instead just segue to an email message I found this morning that I had saved.

I am sure you have already seen the letter written by Erma Bombeck as she was dying of cancer, in which she tells us all what she would do, or wishes she had done, with just a little more time. It is poignant, always good to read again, and I am sure you will both recognize yourself and also have a verse or wish of your own that you could add.

   IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck

I would have talked less and listened more.

    

I would have invited friends over to dinner even

if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and

worries much less about the dirt when someone wanted

to light a fire in the fireplace. 

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose

before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not 

worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while

watching television - and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility

carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead

of pretending the earth would go into holding pattern if I

weren't there for a day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was 

practical, wouldn't show the soil, or was 

guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy,

I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the

wonderment growing inside of me was the only chance in life 

to assist God in a miracle.

(To my two sons, I did cherish every moment that I managed to stay pregnant with each of you. I am so lucky!   Love, Mom)

When my kids kissed impetuously, I would never

have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's" .. more "I'm sorry's"

..but mostly, given another shot at life, 

I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it .. live it..and never give it back.

Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't

like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with

those who DO love us. Let's think about what God HAS

blessed us with. 

   

And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves

mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.

Life is too short to let it pass you by.

      We only have one shot at this and then it's gone.

      I hope you all have a blessed day.

Here is my addition. I will fuss less about muddy footprints all over the house, on the counter (only once, so far!), on the bed (only a few times, so far!), and instead be happy that we again have a beautiful, loving dog who (like these 'smart' phones) is smarter than we are. :) 

Happy Valentine's Day to all my 'kith and kin'. I do love you!

Cultivate your life - you are what you grow - inch by inch, row by row,

Diana Dyer, MS, RD