Celebration of Life

On my way home from coaching basketball yesterday, I was listening to

WGN, my favorite talk radio station out of Chicago. I could tell right

away that there was something wrong by the somber mood of the speaker.

There had been a plane crash. Two small planes collided into each other

over a northern suburb of Chicago. What made the story hit close to home

was that Bob Collins, the morning show man for WGN, was the pilot of one

of the planes and had been killed. I'm sure that many readers have tuned

in "Uncle Bobby" on their car radios in the Midwest. Later that night, as

I made my forty minute drive to my third shift job, I listened as the

station reminisced and paid tribute to a man who was loved by many. They

told story after story, describing him as the ultimate friend and a man

who had lived life to the fullest. Genuine love and affection poured in

from all over the country. The more I listened to how this man had

influenced those around him, the more discouraged I became.

Why you ask?

I was discouraged because I wanted to know why we as a culture wait until

somebody has passed away before we tell them how much we love them. Why

do we wait until someone's ears can't hear before we let them know how

much they mean to us? Why do we wait until it is too late before we

recall the good qualities of a person? Why do we build someone up after

they have gone into eternity? What good does it do then? We share memory

after memory, as we laugh, cry, and think back about what was positive in

a person's life. Yes, it does help us cope with the grief of losing

someone who was special to us, and, yes, it does bring those who are

coping closer together. Unfortunately, as we lovingly remember this

person, our words fall short of the ears that most needed to hear them.

Just once I would like to see a celebration of life instead of a gathering

of death. A celebration where stories are told, eyes mist over, laughter

rings out, and as the speaker concludes his or her loving tribute, the

person they are honoring rises from their chair and gives them the biggest

bear hug! Wouldn't that be something! The special people get to hear the

stories and come to the realization that they have made a difference on

this earth, and all this is done well before they leave their earthly

bodies and go into eternity. When the inevitable funerals finally come,

we can say good-bye with the knowledge that they knew exactly how people

felt about them while they were here on earth.

I now have a stronger resolve to tell those around me how much they mean

to me. I am going to let my wife know just how loved and appreciated she

is, not only by my words, but also by my actions, I am going to play

Batman with my four-year-old more often, and in the middle of our romping,

I am going to grab him, hug him tightly, and tell him how thankful I am

that he is my son. I am going to sneak into my sleeping toddler's bedroom,

place my lips on his chubby cheek, and thank God for the bundle of joy

he has brought into my life. Each day I will make a point to tell both of

my boys how much I love them, whether they are four or eighteen! From

there, I am going to let family and friends know the tremendous impact

they have had on my life. Finally, I am going to let the high school

players I coach know that I look forward to each and every minute that I

get to spend with them in the gym.

Do you love someone? Then tell them! Has someone been an influence in your

life? Then give them a call! Has someone made a difference in your life?

Then write them a letter or send them an e-mail! Don't let another day go

by without letting that person know. There is something special about a

written letter that expresses feelings of love towards another. I don't

know about you, but I have letters and cards from people that I have

saved for years, and from time to time, I get them out and re-read them.

They can turn a depressing day into one where I realize just how blessed

and lucky I am.

Life is too short to leave kind words unsaid. The words you say, or the

letter you write, might just make all the difference in the world.

Michael T. Powers

HeartTouchers@aol.com

Michael T. Powers, the founder of HeartTouchers.com and Heart4Teens.com,

is also an author with stories in 15 inspirational books including many

in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. To preview his books visit:

http://www.HeartTouchers.com