Come, come sit with me…
Today we’re going down memory lane, and I’ll be honest with you — this one is a little sad.
I’m thinking about my dad.
He’s no longer with us, but my God… what he gave us kids was something wonderful.
My dad loved to laugh. Not a quiet laugh — a full, rich, room-shaking laugh that made you laugh even when you didn’t want to.
I get that from him — the joy, the humor, the way I can find light even in heavy moments. That’s all him.
And maybe that’s why he’s been on my heart today. Because the holidays are here, and my dad loved having us kids and grandkids around him. He lived for those moments — the noise, the stories, the teasing, the love filling the room.
He would sit back and smile like, “Yep… this is my family. This is my joy.”
And today, I miss that smile.
The Moment That Stayed With Me
When I lost my dad, it happened quick. So quick that my heart didn’t even have time to prepare.
But there is a moment — a small, quiet, sacred moment — that has carried me all these years.
Just before he passed, I was able to tell him “I love you.” And he said it back.
That was the last gift he ever gave me.
Sometimes love shows up in the simplest sentences, at the moments we don’t expect — and it stays in our spirit forever.
That moment changed me.
It made me love louder. It made me hug more. It made me make sure the people close to me knew they were loved.
Because grief teaches you something that joy never does:
Love should never be assumed — it should be spoken.
We all carry grief. We all process it differently. There is no right way, no perfect way, no graceful way.
But if grief taught me anything, it’s this:
When you have love in your heart, say it. Give it. Let it live outside of you before the moment is gone.
If I Had One More Day
So here is what I’m saying to you:
If I could have just one more day with my dad, I would take it in a heartbeat.
My dad loved cars. Every time he got a new one, he’d take a picture of it like it was a newborn baby. That was his little sparkle — his joy, his pride.
If I had that one more day, I would sit with him and show him all the pictures of every car I’ve owned. We would laugh, and he would tease me, and I would just sit in his presence to feel that love one more time.
Because sometimes presence is the love. You don’t need a long conversation. You just need the moment.
And that’s why I’m saying this to you:
If your parents call you, go.
If they want to see you, go.
If they need a minute of your time, give it.
Things can change in a single breath. Life can shift in a minute. And once that moment is gone… it’s gone.
You cannot turn back time. But you can choose not to waste it.
A Holiday Reminder
As I sit here writing this, I just want you to remember something simple:
The holidays are coming. Life gets busy. People rush, people stress, people forget what really matters.
So slow down for a minute.
Give that love. Give that extra hug. Say “I love you,” even if they already know. Make the time. Show up. Be present while you still can.
Because one day, those small moments become the memories that carry you.
Just like mine carry me.
Whisper 🌹
“Love is never wasted, and time given is never lost.
Hold your people close — one day, these moments will be the memories that hold you.”
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If today’s story touched you or reminded you of someone you love, you can always write me. I read every message myself.
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