WORDS TO LIVE BY

TODAY I HOPE IT WILL BE ALRIGHT IF I VENTURE AWAY FROM MY USUAL POST.  I WANTED TO  SHARE TWO THINGS I TOOK  AWAY WITH ME FROM THE MEMORIAL OF MY DEAR FRIEND THIS PAST SATURDAY.  IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING MY POST, I MENTIONED HER SUDDEN PASSING AND MY SHOCK AND SADNESS OVER IT, IN AN EARLIER POST.  IF I HAD TO SUM UP IN JUST ONE WORD HOW I FELT LEAVING THAT SERVICE, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE "UPLIFTING".  NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM SUCH A SOMBER OCCASION I KNOW.  ONE OF THE THINGS SAID THAT TOUCHED MY HEART THE MOST, WERE THE WORDS OF MY FRIEND HERSELF TO HER HUSBAND. SHE KNEW SHE WAS DYING, AND SO IN HER TYPICAL GLASS FULL ATTITUDE, SHE SAID TO HIM " I WILL CLOSE MY EYES, AND WAKE UP IN PARADISE, AND THE FIRST PERSON I WANT TO SEE IS YOU!!  CALL ME CRAZY, BUT I JUST CAN'T SEE THE DOWN SIDE TO THAT"!!  THAT WAS MY FRIEND-ALWAYS POSITIVE, ALWAYS TRYING TO HELP AND COMFORT OTHERS. THERE ARE NOT MANY LIKE HER IN THIS WORLD-NO MATTER WHAT SHE WAS DEALING WITH-SHE ALWAYS MADE TIME TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.  THE OTHER BIG THING I WENT AWAY WITH WERE THE WORDS OF THE SPEAKER (WHO BTW IS MARRIED TO MY FRIENDS SISTER). HE SAID IN CLOSING THAT LIFE IS LIKE A CANDLE IN THE WIND.. IT CAN BE SNUFFED OUT WAY TOO SOON BY ACCIDENT, OR ILLNESS. HE THEN ASKED IF ANY ONE OF US HAS ANYTHING AGAINST ANYONE-ESPECIALLY A FAMILY MEMBER, TO MAKE OUR PEACE WITH THEM TODAY. HE ADDED,  NONE OF US ARE GIVEN A 100% CERTAINTY THAT WE (OR THEY) WILL BE GRANTED LIFE TOMORROW.  WELL, HOPEFULLY, TOMORROW I WILL BE BACK ON TRACK WITH SOME NEW MIKE SR. ADVENTURE, BUT FOR TODAY, I FELT THIS MESSAGE WAS TOO IMPORTANT, AND TOO CLOSE TO MY HEART, TO IGNORE.  JUST ME