Nothing for granted

I posted on Facebook earlier this week about having a heavy heart. I've had close friends lose loved ones; I've had situations that I've had to deal with that weren't ideal in any sense of the word; I have friends battling cancer; friends' family members battling sickness.

And then I've had situations with people I don't even know. I saw a mom slap her young daughter in a parking lot. A yuppie father cursed out his very young children in the grocery store for bumping into something. Maddening.

My heart is heavy. And my soul is weary.

Last Thankful Thursday, I posted that I'm an empathetic person. I feel deeply. I always have. Saturday night, after seeing the incident with the idiot dad at Publix, I bawled. I hurt so much for those kids who were cute as a button, clinging to their stuffed animals and trying to make dad happy. My heart was breaking for them. After crying for a good 10 minutes, I prayed for God to protect those kids and let them know they're loved and I prayed that God would open that dad's eyes. Preferably with a slap to the head.

I've prayed more in the past four days than I have in a very long time. Which is sad to admit. But any time someone has popped into my head I've prayed for them at that moment.

And now my heart isn't as heavy. I'm not as weary. I'm still sad but that's okay.

And I'm not taking anything for granted. When I see my family over the next few weeks, I will hug them tightly and tell them I love them. And thank them for loving me, staying healthy, taking care of themselves, taking care of me and being there.

I will be making my moments count.