21 years later....

It was an "Indian Summer" day, not unlike the weather we've been having in western PA this week, when my life and the lives of many of our close family and friends were changed 21 years ago when my mom was tragically killed in a farm accident. So what does 21 years feel like? Some days it feels like yesterday, other days it feels like an eternity ago. Some days I remember a lot about my mom, other days I don't think about her at all. Sometimes I miss anniversaries of her death, her birthdays; other times, like this time, they hit me like a ton of brick. So today, to mark the anniversary of her death, I'm going to post the poem the pastor of our church read at my mom's funeral. Our pastor found this poem on the refrigerator of our house, clipped out by mom. This poem has turned up several times in my life, I like to think always as a reminder from my mom.

DON'T YOU QUIT (author unknown)

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit-

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It might be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Tell the people close to you today how much you love and appreciate them! Life is short, but very precious.