leave less unspoken

Something our life has taught me is the importance of not leaving things unsaid.

We simply do not know what tomorrow will hold.

So act, love, speak, choose, relate, live today in a way that you will not have any regrets about tomorrow, regardless of what transpires.

I think so many of us walk through our lives impacted by and appreciating people who have had a truly transformative mark on our lives, but we don't necessarily always articulate to them the significance that the intersection of our lives has had on us.

There are some people and some families who operate under the notion that "you can assume that I love/appreciate/fill-in-the-blank you unless you hear otherwise."  I'm convinced that's not the best way to move through life and relationships.

Funerals are not the time to speak about the impact of someone's life.  Today is.

In that spirit, this year for Philip's birthday I started out with an idea and plan that quickly became a really powerful experience.   I've stood by his side for nearly nine years as his wife watching and witnessing day after day the way he has left his mark where he has lived and worked.  And people have noticed.  They recognize there is something distinctive about how he serves, how he leads, how he responds to disappointment, and how he rises to challenges.


I can say over and over to him that what he does matters.  But I wanted to create a space for other people in his life to remind him and reflect to him the man they've watched him become.  I set out on a quest to collect letters from men who have been a part of his journey from 0-31.  Friends.  Family.  Commanders.  Colleagues.

He was traveling on his birthday yesterday, but we got to Facetime today.  With the Ed Sheehan song "Photograph" playing in the background, he opened the box that (somewhat miraculously) reached him right before he packed his bag for yet another relocation during this trip and opened a collection of over forty letters from people who've walked with him on his path.

I think that today marked one of the most incredible birthday/Valentines celebrations that we've shared to date.  Tears are spilling down my cheeks as I sit here next to my silly little space heater on this cold February day.  I hold the utmost respect for the man who was chosen to both weather heartache and celebrate victory with me in this lifetime.  I am humbly his.  My heart is sealed.

Start leaving less things unspoken.

post script:

This was the package.  I think Philip's subbing the Jewish greetings for birthday cards was pretty awesome.  I told him, "31.  It's like a reverse Bar Mitzvah.  When you're into Jesus, you just celebrate when you're 31, not 13."



Also, even though I had a HELLACIOUS Friday (it was one of those days that maybe in a year I can look back and laugh on it, but notsomuch right now) yesterday I had a really special night with these sweet Valentines.

I'm going to call this weekend a Win.

Be well dear readers.  Love deeply.  Live intentionally.