A heart beat stops. The officer plays taps on a cold winter’s day as friends and family gather to bury a loved one. The earth shakes and people are suddenly thrown into chaos. The doctor starts his conversation with, “I’m sorry to tell you this, but…”

Why is it that sometimes the only thing that can cause us to see beauty is tragedy? Why is it that sometimes we have to be forced to the edge of the cliff before we can see the majesty of the mountain? And why is it that sometimes we don’t see life as  precious until we come close to losing it? Or worse, until after we’ve lost someone precious to us.

Let me ask you this: What’s more important, what that woman said behind your back or the awesome beauty of the rainbow in front of you? The dirty dish your husband left in the sink or the orchid blooming in the kitchen window? The fact that your kid didn’t follow instructions or the feeling you got when he pressed his tiny hand into yours and told you he loved you?

For as long as life endures, we get the chance for do-overs. And while we may not always get it right, as long as we have breath, we have the opportunity to make it right. So take this moment to be courageous enough to say, “I’m sorry.” Be forgiving enough to say, “I love you.” Be patient enough to say, “That’s ok.” Be human enough to say, “We all make mistakes.”

The things in life that matter most will never be found in a bank account, kept on a scorecard, or written in a textbook. They’re what we arrived with when we began our physical journey in this world. And they can be  what we leave with as we move on to our next adventure: Love. Grace. Peace. Abundance. Kindness. Beauty.

This is the choice. This is the moment.