It was just an ordinary afternoon of racing around and running errands before picking up my daughter from school, but in the midst of the mundane there was a powerful moment that profoundly spoke to my heart.

As I stood in the grocery store checkout line, I will be honest I was a little frustrated at how long it was taking. However, never wanting to waste a moment, I immediately busied myself with scanning my groceries to make sure nothing was missed and then I quickly began looking over my to-do list to see what else could be checked off in the next hour. I was completely engrossed in my own thoughts until a rather loud conversation erupted right behind me. An older gentlemen came up with two items in his hand, but stepped aside to let the older lady behind him take his spot. She quickly told him that since he only had two items he should go first, but he assured her that he didn’t need to go first. He went on to say that he had absolutely nothing to go home for and no one waiting for him. She then went on to tell him that she understood because she had lost her husband a year ago. They continued to talk as it became my turn to check-out. I found myself wanting to turn around and express my sympathy for both of them, but didn’t want to interrupt their moment. An honest moment. A real-life moment. A moment that I could not let go of.

I walked out of the grocery store pondering their lives and how lonely they must often feel. I couldn’t help but feel their sadness as they related to one another. I thought of my sweet family that is always there at home with me, and my heart overflowed with love and thankfulness for them. And I began to wonder if in all of the craziness of rushing around trying to get everything done each day, am I loving them well? Am I appreciating their sweet faces every day that we are blessed to be together? Do I savor the moments we have together?

Life is funny how it tricks us into thinking it is forever, but in reality it is fleeting. It feels like just yesterday I was a little girl riding my bike after school, and somehow I blinked and now I am in my 40s. And as life keeps marching on, I am even more determined to keep dreaming, keep living, and keep loving with everything inside of me.

It has been a few weeks since the grocery store encounter, but I have not forgotten the reminder that it impressed upon my heart. A reminder that I’ve only got one shot at this thing called life. I don’t want to be so busy rushing around or looking ahead that I miss the people and even the grocery store moments right in front of me. I want to choose to LIVE fully, to LOVE completely, and to EMBRACE every moment that I am given- the mundane moments, the grandiose moments and everything in between, for every moment matters and is an opportunity to cherish those around us and to make a difference with our lives!