It was a cold morning several years ago. My alarm clock had just gone off but I was having 1 getting out of bed. Dad had died a few weeks before and I found myself just going through a range of 2 . I felt weighed down by grief, sadness, and depression.
Dad had a 3 and would sometimes shout at me, but he also had a kind and gentle laugh. But we still 4 touched and never hugged. Finally his own health began to rapidly 5 and soon brain cancer had taken him from us. I remember thinking what I haven’t had was just one 6 hug from him.
I sighed and got out my 7 . I turned on the lights. I saw my son walking down the hall to meet me. Suddenly, he opened his 8 and gave me a huge, heart-felt, hug. And just as he did I heard Dad’s 9 deep inside of me say, “Joey, this hug is from me!” At the same time I 10 and smiled. At that moment, in the place where heart, mind, and spirit all 11 , I felt loved. I felt loved by Dad. And I knew that I couldn’t 12 on life. I still had a lot of things left to do and a lot of love left to 13 .
Life here can seem very long but in 14 it is so very brief. Never 15 an opportunity to love. And always keep your heart and your arms open for a hug!