Footprints

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.” --Flavia Weedn

What a beautiful quote!  Tears always well in my eyes when  read it. At 63, so many people have entered my life, and so many have passed on through. Have you ever really stopped to think about all those people who have come and gone in your life?   And wondered why they had come and how they affected your life? Or how they may have changed the outcome of who you have become?  All of the people that we cross paths with, whether to remain our friends for years to come, or in one day and gone the next, each has type of effect on us in one way or another.

They can be people who we know for years--parents, husbands-- they can be someone we see only once who has made an impression on us such as a handicapped child who happens on our path when we are having a bad day.  Suddenly, our day doesn't seem so bad anymore.  Most people have a purpose for being in our lives while others are just like scenery in the background...sort of like the extras on a movie set. Some may come into our lives to specifically cause trouble or pain while others come to meet our physical and spiritual needs.  Some are here to teach us a lesson; others to teach us how to love.  

Sometimes we may want to hold onto people, we don't want to let them go, but they are meant to pass through our lives.  A little girl named Kathleen was my first friend; we grew up next door to each other, and from the age of five, we were always together...that is, until we reached our teenage years when her family moved away.  We tried for awhile to stay in contact with each other, but we were headed down two separate paths.  She taught me what true friendship really is, and when I sit here and think about it, she's the only true friend I ever really had. It's been about 50 years since we last spoke, but her footprints remain in my heart.


Elizabeth, my dear online friend, came into my life and left oh, so quickly, but before her passing, she awakened me to her wisdom, a wise woman who touched many hearts and left a lasting legacy.  Pets, too, can leave a mark on us.  My first dog, Susie, was hit by an oil truck.  I remember clearly coming home from school and finding out she was having surgery.  They had to cut off one of her back legs, but my goodness, how she survived.  I can close my eyes and see my little princess running about just as a normal dog.  Her lesson to me was that, no matter handicapped you may be, you can accomplish anything if you only set your mind to it.

Learn to appreciate others. If someone loves you, make sure to love them back. Take note of when someone does something nice for you. If your spouse or a co-worker does a task that's normally yours, stop and thank them sincerely. Cherish the moment, the time you have together for you have no idea how long it will be. And look for other opportunities to find the good in others for even those who cause us anguish, are here to teach us the lessons we need to learn. This will help you appreciate the people around you, who are also part of your life.

We laughed

until we had to cry.

We gave love,

right down to our last goodbye.

We were the best

we thought we'd ever be

Just you and me,

for just a moment... 

--Unknown--