You just never know.

This morning my youngest son woke up and I took him into bed with me - taking full advantage of my week off work (and my oldest 2 still sleeping). He lay beside me kicking and coo'ing while I tickled his toes and played peek a boo. Eventually, I grabbed my phone from the night stand and checked my facebook. The first thing that appeared on my newsfeed was my friends sisters blog. I opened it up and started reading her newest entry that was talking about today being the 10 year anniversary of her Dad's passing. Now, I never knew her Dad. I felt like I did because I had heard my friend and her sister talk about him before. I had seen photos. But, as I read the blog I cried. I cried like I knew that man. I cried because I felt my heart ache for my friends and their family. I thought about my family. I thought about the pain I would feel if I lost a parent. The pain is actually unbearable for me to think about. I often think I wouldn't function properly after losing a parent. I think that everyone I saw and everywhere I looked I would be reminded and the sadness would be constant. But, then I look at my friends who have lost a parent and their strength and courage is outstanding to me. They are able to tell stories about their Dad and not break down, but instead laugh at the happy memories.

What I'm getting at with this is that we often judge people. We all do it. We find something to knit pick them about and judge away...their clothes, their smile, their voice, their family, their house, their car, etc etc...its all ridiculous but we all do it. But, you know what if you looked at my friends who lost a parent you wouldn't say "hey, they look sad..." instead you may say "They have big smiles", "Look at their beautiful children" or "listen to their boisterous laughs". Don't judge someone - you never know what their journey has been. You don't know what they've seen or what they've been though.

Today after I read that blog and had my cry, I gave each one of my kids a little extra hug. I thought about my parents and thought, I better call them today and say a simple "I love you". Life is short. We hear it all the time, but its true. Hold onto those you love. Don't judge because you don't know the journey. You don't know how many tears someones eyes have cried.