Time is just so short

I hate to put such a shadow on my blog, but I have to write about Amanda. I had Amanda when she was a very rambunctious sophomore back in 1998, which was just my first year of teaching. She was a loud mouthed girl who definitely made an impression in my mind. Shortly after I passed her on to the next grade level she left the high school and moved to a nearby school for various reasons. Yet, in those next few years, when I least expected it, Amanda would appear in my classroom to say hello on one of her days off.

Tonight, via the Internet website Facebook, one of her good friends wrote me a personal message that Amanda had passed away unexpectedly this morning. She had just turned 26 and had so much of her life left to live. Her friend (also named Amanda) sent me the message and told me "I just know how much she respected you and thought she would like me to tell you." I just can't stop crying. I never got the chance to talk to her again. I never got the opportunity to tell Amanda how much I remember about her and how she helped to mold me into the teacher I am today.

An event like this makes me take a step back to look at my life. Time is so short. I think to Amanda and her parents and her brother, who I had the pleasure of having in class just last year. Then I look to my own family. And I am sad for my family. I have family members not speaking to those I love, and even not speaking to me. We just do not know when God is going to decide to take us from this earth as he needs us more with him than we need to be down here. What will happen if God decides to take one of MY loved ones away before I get the chance to say I'm sorry or I love you? What will happen if God decides to take one of MY loved ones away before they get the chance to tell me that they are sorry or that they love me?

Time is just so short.