Honor the Living

We had two deaths in our inner circle this week.  Both services happened yesterday.  Now this has been the busiest time of my life, and I had no time to play the music for a memorial and cook dinner for 30+ bereft people, but I of course made it happen.  Why?  Because I wasn't about to miss the chance to honor my deceased friends.  

Which is of course tragically comical, because I had already missed the chance to honor my friends, them being dead and all.  

In essence, I was honoring their families.  And that's fine.  I was so happy to do that.  But every time I experience a loss, my perspective returns, and I remember just how precious and short our time here really is.  It makes me want to prioritize my loved ones before it's at their funeral.

My days are just packed lately.  Between caring for our kids and making a new album, I'm rehabbing a building that I'm turning into a restaurant.  This week, I worked on refurbishing the back hallway by painting and caulking trim.  I of course brought my daughter with me to the job site because I don't have steady childcare for her yet (except the two days a week my Mom watches her...thanks, Mom!).  Anyway, there I was, working quickly and sloppily like the crazed sleep-deprived woman I am, wiping my caulk covered fingers all over my pants and shirt, getting paint smears all over the floor, when I looked down.  There was my little baby Johanna.  Smiling like never before. Looking at me with pure, unfiltered joy.  And in that moment, it hit me.  

I need to honor this kid..right now.

I put down the caulk gun, pulled her out of the car seat, and walked with her.  I talked with her.  We made faces.  I sang a little. 

It was nice.  So nice.

Reader, today is Mother's Day, and I'm off to continue to love on my family and make them a priority, right now.  Whatever your priorities are, I hope you're able to honor what matters most, this week and always.  Lots of love to you until next Sunday.  -Em

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