A reminder of what we have justme15: The first day of school our professor introduced
himself and challenged us
to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood
up to look around
when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady
beaming up at me with a
smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi
handsome. My name is
Rose.
I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course
you may!" and she gave
me a giant squeeze.
"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent
age?" I asked.
She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich
husband, get married, and
have a couple of kids..."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have
motivated her to be
taking on this challenge at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a college education and
now I'm getting one!"
she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building
and shared a chocolate
milkshake.
We became instant friends. Every day for the next
three months we would
leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always
mesmerized listening to
this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and
experience with me.
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon
and she easily made
friends wherever she went.
She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention
bestowed upon her
from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at
our football
banquet.
I'll never forget what she taught us. She was
introduced and stepped up to
the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared
speech, she dropped her
three by five cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into
the microphone and
simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer
for Lent and this
whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back
in order so let me just
tell you what I know."
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do
not stop playing
because we are old; we grow old because we stop
playing.
There are only four secrets to staying young, being
happy, and achieving
success. You have to laugh and find humor every day.
You've got to have a
dream. When you lose your dreams, you die
We have so many people walking around who are dead and
don't even know it!
There is a huge difference between growing older and
growing up
If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one
full year and don't do
one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old.
If I am eighty-seven
years old and stay in bed for a year and never do
anything I will turn
eighty-eight.
Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent
or ability. The idea
is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change.
Have no regrets.
The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we
did, but rather for
things we did not do. The only people who fear death
are those with
regrets."
She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The
Rose."
She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live
them out in our
daily lives.
At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she
had begun all those
years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her
sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her
funeral in tribute to the
wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never
too late to be all
you can possibly be
When you finish reading this, please send this
peaceful word of advice to
your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!
These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY.
GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by
what we give.
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
"Good friends are like stars.........You don't always
see them, but you know they are always there."
Re:A reminder of what we have twetifb: Beautiful story...Thanks for sharing!
Re:A reminder of what we have justme15: You are very welcome. thought it might help someone out.
pooh
Re:A reminder of what we have riversandlakes: May I go now?
Do you think the time is right?
May I say good-bye to pain filled days
and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best,
an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond
and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first,
I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now
to a warm and loving light.
I want to go.
I really do.
It's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can
to live just one more day,
to give you time to care for me
and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and so afraid,
because I see your tears.
I'll not be far,
I promise that, and hope you'll always know
that my spirit will be close to you,
wherever you may go.
Thank you so much for loving me.
You know I love you too.
That's why it's hard to say good-bye
and end this life with you.
So hold me now, just one more time
and let me hear you say,
because you care so much for me,
you'll let me go today.
