What if...........

While waiting for Little Bkworm to surf the internet at Borders this afternoon, I found time to read "An Hour To Live, An Hour To Love" by Richard & Kristine Carlson.

The book is basically a love letter that Richard Carlson wrote to his wife on their 18th wedding anniversary. He died three years later in his sleep, from pulmonary embolism. Life is but like the blowing of the wind, isn't it?

The title took my attention immediately. If you only had an hour to live, what would you do with that hour? Call your lawyer? Settle a score? Work out who will benefit from all that money you stashed in your bank account? Spend it with your loved ones? Food for thought there.

At the end of the book, Kristin Carlson shared a beautiful poem written by Norma Cornett Marek.

Tomorrow Never Comes

If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep,

I would tuck you in more tightly, and pray the Lord your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you walk out the door,

I would give you a hug and kiss, and call you back for just one more.

If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,

I would tape each word and action, and play them back throughout my days

If I knew it would be the last time, I would spare an extra minute or two,

To stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming you know I do.

So, just in case tomorrow never comes, and today is all I get,

I'd like to say how much I love you, and I hope we never will forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike,

And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.

So, if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?

For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day

That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss,

And you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear,

That you love them very much, and you'll always hold them dear.

Take time to say "I'm sorry," "Please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's okay".

And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today.

© Norma Cornett Marek 1989

Don't wait for tomorrow.