IT COULD HAVE BEEN YOU!

I worked the early shift, so I was home by 4:30 pm. After doing some chores in the bright sunlight, I washed up and put some fresh, clean clothes on. As I looked in the mirror, I caught myself smiling in response to a wonderful vision I had: I pictured a young "future grandchild" (I have none yet), giggling and saying; "Grandpa, you look sparkly"! From the mouths and hearts of children, are we so wonderfully blessed.

Well, that's how I felt, "sparkly" at the very thought that based upon the law of averages, God's Will, and that all my grown children will be wed in the months ahead, soon, I'll hear such loving giggles and heartfelt words!

Happy as can be, I drove my wife to our local grocery store like I had thousands of times before. We shopped for the essentials, like we do every week, and returned home. We put everything away, and decided that instead of going out to eat locally (like we try to do once each week), I would go out to KFC and bring some chicken home. Diane (my wonderful wife), had been feeling a little ill, and we both thought it would be better for her to rest, home.

Off I went driving North, the Sun shining (although now getting low in the western sky). No line in KFC, perfect timing, so I was out in a flash, and on my way driving South towards home (the setting Sun now on my right-side).

I was stopped at a very busy local intersection for a red light. The light changed to green for me, and I started to go slowly due to a natural obstacle limiting what could be seen approaching from the left (they now had a red light). As I moved forward with my eyes looking for danger, I was terrified when I saw an approaching car running the light at full speed or faster headed right at my driver-side. I braked and stopped dead, now in the intersection. The car behind me stopped in time too. The car approaching me swerved to his left then to his right, clearing me by inches going full speed. By the time I just turned my head to the right just following his direction into the setting Sun, his car was already 30-40 yards passed me. He, the young man driving, never even stopped!

If there had been any cars coming from the south-side of that intersection at that moment, they would've been hit, I would've been hit, the car behind me would've been hit, cars stopped facing east would've been hit. It would've been terrible for so many!

God blessed so many once again!

I was so shaken up I had to pull off the main road into a parking lot and wait until I settled down before I could make my way home!

I always live each day to the fullest I can as a result of the realization that "life" is a blessing, a gift, that one day "will have an end" as it is now known. But because of my life experiences to date, because of my FAITH and BELIEF in GOD, also have I come to the realization that there is "Everlasting Life" for each of us, different from that which is known by us here.

I regret not one day that I have lived, for if I had not lived it as it had turned out, never would I have arrived at where I am now, never would I have come to know the love of family, the love of friend, the love of Country nor would I have discovered my purpose, my reason for being.

Yes, I am thankful to GOD for once again granting me the opportunity to continue to move forward to experience the joys of that which this day will too bring, and have a dream, a "sparkling" of the joy of that which may come!

When I got HOME, I dared to be me, and hugged those I so love.

I'm YOUR approaching car, so too have YOU now been blessed!

DARE TO BE YOU, for YOU are magnificent, and in OUR World, do YOU, do WE all make difference!

The choice is YOURS to make! Shall we begin?