Something I wanted to share with you all

[shellit74]

One of my Dad & Moms really good friend left this posting on my Dad's tribute page I set up on the ACS website... I wanted to share it with you all, because maybe it can help someone who is struggling with something... It made me cry, but I completley get what she means... i do wonder if she wrote it or if she found it somewhere.

Shelli

Life on a Train

Life is like a train ride. We get on. We ride. We get off. We get back on and ride some more. There are accidents and there are some delays. At certain stops there are surprises. Some of these will translate into great moments of joy, some will result in profound sorrow.

When we are first born and we first board the train, we meet people whom we think will be with us for the entire journey. Those people are our parents! Sadly this is far from the truth. Our parents are with us for as long as we need them. They too have journeys they must complete. We live on with the memories of their love, affection, friendship, guidance and their ever presence.

There are others who board the train and who eventually become very important to us in turn. These people are our brothers, sisters, friends and acquaintances, whom we will learn to love and cherish. Some people consider their journey like a jaunty tour. They will just go merrily along. Others will encounter many upsets, tears, losses on their journey. Some people on the train will leave an everlasting impression when they get off..... Some will get on and off the train so quickly, they will scarcely leave a sign that they ever traveled along with you or crossed your path....

We will sometimes be upset that some passengers, whom we love, will chose to sit in another compartment and leave us to travel on our own. Then again there's nothing that says we can't seek them out anyway. Nevertheless, once sought out and found, we may not even be able to sit next to them because that seat will already be taken. That's okay....everyone's journey will be filled with hopes, dreams, challenges, setbacks and goodbyes.

We must strive to make the best of it....no matter what... We must constantly strive to understand our travel companions and look for the best in everyone. Remember that at any moment during our journey, any one of our travel companions can have a weak moment and be in need of our help. We too may vacillate or hesitate even trip...hopefully we can count on someone being there to be supportive and understanding....

The bigger mystery of our journey is that we don't know when our last stop will come. Neither do we know when our travel companions will make their last stop, not even those sitting next to us.

Personally, I know I'll be sad to make my final stop....I'm sure of it! My separation from all those friends and acquaintances I made during the train ride will be painful. Leaving all those I'm close to will be a sad thing. But then again, I'm certain that one day I'll get to the main station only to meet everyone else. They'll be carrying their baggage most of which they didn't have when they first got on this train. I'll be glad to see them again. I'll also be glad to have contributed to their baggage....and to have enriched their lives, just as much as they will have contributed to my baggage and enriched my life.

We're all on this train ride together. Above all, we should all try to strive to make the ride as pleasant and memorable as we can, right up until we each leave the train for the last time.

[Brandyswa]

Shelly, THank you for sharing the train. I am so sorry that you lost your dad, and we will keep you in our prayers and thoughts

[Patti B]

Shell-

Thanks so much - that was really awesome. I am printing that one out.

Once again, I am so sorry for your loss.

Hugs - Patti B.

[carolhg]

That is BEAUTIFUL! I also am very sorry for your loss of your father.

Carol