Over the last 4 years that I have been incarcerated, many of my friends and family members have passed away, including my Mom and Dad. I recently received news from my friend, that her husband passed away expectantly from a heart attack. This woman happens to be my closest friend of over 30 years, and her husband was also a close friend. She has an amazing close loving family that will support her during this very challenging time. She is also surrounded by friends from all over the world that love her. My heart goes out to all of their family and friends. He was a wonderful man who was always so kind, generous and supportive of me. I still remember the first time I met him at an Italian restaurant in Chicago where we had a lovely dinner. He, being Italian and such a loving soul, gave me a big hug and a "kiss" on both cheeks "Italian style". When someone close to us passes away, losing their physical presence can create a huge sense of "loss", a void, an emptiness and a vacuum that seems impossible to fill. Yet, these are the times when love is poured out to us more than at any other. Yes, there is loss and an empty void. But know that LOVE from everywhere is pouring in to fill that void. My Dear Friend, you are loved more than you know. Open your heart now and receive that love and allow it to heal your heart. God loves you, all the people whose lives you touch love you, and so do I. Your friend, Kevin.
A crooked ugly tree is still "perfect". It is the "perfect" crooked ugly tree.
When "bad" things happen, they are the "perfect" bad things.
Think about the story of the man named Lee, in ancient China.
The fence to his corral came loose in a storm, and his only horse ran away.
His friends came to console him. It was his only horse. Now Lee had nothing.
His friends said " Lee, we are sorry for the bad news about your horse".
Lee smiled calmly and said, "maybe bad, maybe not".
The next day, the horse came back. But with 8 other wild horses!
Now Lee had 9 horses..
His friends came and said "Lee you are so lucky. You have become rich."
Lee said, "maybe lucky, maybe not".
The next week Lee's son was riding one of the wild horses trying to "break" him. The wild horse threw Lee's son off him, and the boy broke his leg.
Lee's friends came and said "Lee, it is bad that your son broke his leg".
Lee said, "maybe bad, maybe not".
The next day, the army came to the village and took all the young men, forcing them into the army and forcing them to go into battle. They did not take Lee's son, because of his broken leg.
Lee's friends came and said "Lee, you are so lucky that your son was not taken by the army, as all our sons are sure to be killed in battle."
Lee said, "maybe I am lucky, maybe not".
The story never ends.
Everything happens for a reason. Everything flows in life. There are times to plant seeds. There are time to harvest. There are times to rest, and times to work. There are times to be happy, and there will times to sad. There are times when you need a shoulder to cry on, and there are times when you will provide the shoulder to cry on. This is life.