Tomorrow May Very Well Be (Too) Late
We all know the saying "Life's too short" and many of us take it for granted,when in all honesty life is indeed too short, this I know only too well. My husband's motto used to be, "You only live once, so live your life to the full". At times I used to feel perhaps he is stretching this motto a bit too much but nonetheless I would be there supporting him in whatever crazy thing he wanted to do. Today I'm thankful that I never stood in his way of living his life to the full, because as young as he was when he passed away almost 5 months ago, he'd lived a full life.
We really never know when (will) our vow "till death do us part" strike and that is why we should at all times value and appreciate our spouses. Tell your spouse every moment you have how much you love them and how much he/she means to you. Life is too short to go to bed upset or to have long periods of silent treatments.
When we got married 6 years ago, I pictured myself living a beautiful life with him forever, and my forever was a thought that we would grow old together, watch our kids grow, graduate and get married and we were even looking forward to the time when they would all be out of the house and it would go back to it being just the two of us enjoying our old age. Never in a million years did I picture a forever of only 6 years. And that is why it is so important to realise that tomorrow may just never come.
We had our ups and downs, but I had a good husband and even if time could be turned back and God whispered in my ears that I should know that in 2013 my husband's life would end, I would still have it all over again. My husband taught me the true meaning of love because he loved selflessly and gave off so much love and unapologetically so. He was full of so much energy and had a positive outlook on life and lived each day of his life. I learned such a lot from him. He loved me, respected me and it made it easy for me to be submissive to him. We shared everything, we went through pain in our marriage, but through it all we stuck together like glue. We allowed each other to grow individually and together as a couple and it strengthened our marriage. We got married quite young, I was 22 and he was almost 24, but yet in our marriage we matured.
Marriage is a work in progress and no single marriage is perfect. All that's needed is for these two imperfect individuals to realise that the success of your marriages is determined by the hard work you put in. Love each other sincerely, keep the spark and like a plant, water your marriage often.
Again I will say it, life truly is too short. Just 6 months ago we registered for this year's retreat, we made plans, we were going to drive through very early, do a boat trip with the Mgudwa's, after the retreat we were to have a road trip to no particular place. And sadly, those plans was cancelled on that fatal morning of 18 April 2013.
I still remember that morning like it was yesterday, I remember Sandiso (my eldest daughter) and I bombarding him with kisses and he still said, "Ooohhh my! And another girl is on the way, I'm going to be in trouble!" and we laughed about it. I remember him saying to me "I love you so much, you are a good wife to me." I still cry when I remember this. I also remember asking him that morning not to go to work with his new bike but to rather catch a lift with me but he was so full of excitement. That young boy's smile and enthusiasm of having a new toy... So I didn't nag because I could see he was enjoying his day old 'R1 Big Bang bike', as he reminded me, because I just called it a bike 🙂 As he rode off in front of me I didn't for a minute think that this was the last time I would see him alive. In fact we had a dinner date that evening. I drove past the accident that morning on my way to work and I immediately felt it in my heart that he was the patient lying in those bushes, but I couldn't bring myself to stop. I still don't know how I made it to work because I was busy trying to get hold of him. I don't understand why I didn't stop but I also think it probably was a good thing I didn't because I might have gone into labour from the shock, I was 34 weeks pregnant at the time.
He passed away 2hrs later in hospital and I remember thinking that I was just having a bad dream and I would be woken up at any time.
This is how harsh the reality hit me that indeed life is too short. He passed away at the tender age of 29 yrs, at the peak of his life. So couples my request is for you all to appreciate your spouses and to tell them daily how much you love them. Don't let petty things come between you and don't leave arguments unresolved hoping to fix it the next day etc. because the reality is "tomorrow it may very well be too late".
It is the good memories I have of the life I shared with the special man that he was, that keeps me going. His huge smile and his zest for life. He was a great father and a superb husband. He had his faults like anybody else but he was indeed a good man who touched everyone's life he came in contact with.
Enjoy the retreat and allow the spark to be rekindled in your marriage, it will do wonders for you.
To Pastor and Mam Lupondwana, I truly want to thank you for all the effort you put into the retreats. It has benefited my marriage so much! Like I told you, it was the one event that we both looked forward to every year with much excitement. It is very rewarding to attend the retreat and it strengthens a lot of marriages. May God continue blessing you and giving you the strength to always host the Young Couples Retreats.
God is my Comforter and strength during my pain. He has been my Provider and has been keeping His promise of never leaving me nor forsaking me. I do not know what He has in store for my life, but I'm trusting in Him completely and I've put my life in His hands.
Thank you for all the prayers and for the support, care and love that many of you have given to me. It will always be appreciated.
Enjoy your spouse and don't give the devil the satisfaction of creeping up on your marriage. And remember... make things right today, as tomorrow may never come.
Regards
Stacy