With all the talk about viral connections on the internet, you might be wondering if you should be wiping your laptop off with a disinfectant wipe.
But, through the magic of 21st century hyperlinks and forwarded emails, along with the weird, the goofy and the downright scary, even truly good information can make its way around the world
On Valentine's Day, a day that is filled with love and romance, this might seem a sad subject, but it seemed a good way to honor a sweet family.
I love to read Paula Spencer's column in Woman's Day. She is the author of Momfidence - An Oreo Never Killed Anybody and Other Secrets of Happier Parenting, and blogs at www.momfidence.com.
In the Febuary 10th issue, she wrote about 3 year old Cole Ruotsala.
Cole went fishing one day with his father and caught his first fish. Then he began complaining of a stomach ache. Eight weeks later, he died in his parents arms after being diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma, an agressive, inexpilicable cancer noted for its rarity: The odds of getting it are literally one in a million.
As Paula stated in the article, if after reading that you are "itching to go hug your child, do."
That should be how you feel and I believe his parents would relish that result.
In a time when we go, go, go at lightening speed, are involved in more activities than we can count on fingers (and toes!), shuttle from one soccer game to another ballet practice, have to call our kids on their cell phones to find out where they are and don't have time to get outside to breathe fresh air, it sometimes takes stories like these to make us stop. Stop and Give Thanks for what we have, while we have it.
So, on Valentine's Day, take the time. Time to stop and watch your precious ones. Watch them breathe, watch them giggle, watch them use their imagination, watch them forget the rules one more time, watch them dance the happy dance. Just spend time with them and enjoy it.
As my mother-in-law is always reminding me; "There will be a day when you long for the little boy who left a trail of toys all through the house!"
So, let's use this Valentine's Day to hug them extra tight, smootch them extra long and spend a few extra moments just tuning in to the ones we love.
If that is the result of reading Cole's story, then it is an honor to his memory.
And, if you happen to be so inspired, you can also help out the foundation set up in his honor, (Caring Openly, Loving Eternally). It is a nonprofit set up to support families whose lives are put on hold by a battle with childhood cancer.
Here's to Inspired Valentine's Day Smootching!
Comments