A music icon from my teenage years has passed away.  Earlier today we heard the news.   Although I didn’t want to believe it, shortly thereafter, it was confirmed by his publicist.  Prince passed away at the age of 57 years old.

That is SO incredibly young!!

I’m sure Prince had plans, just like you and I … and yet, he will never get the opportunity to act on those plans he had for the coming days, weeks, and months of 2016.  I’m sure he did not ring in the new year on January 1st with the knowledge that his days would be short in the new year.

We all think we have so much time on our hands, and yet, we could be called home to be with the Lord at any given moment.  Is your heart right?  If today was your last day, would you be ready to meet your maker?

The news brought such sadness deep within my heart.  Although the world has lost other music icons in the past, I was not affected by this as much as I was today by Prince’s passing.  As much as I loved Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, I did not cry when they passed.  I was sad, don’t get me wrong.  However, today when I heard the news about Prince, I was overcome with such sadness that literally brought me to tears.  While I didn’t sob deep, heart wrenching sobs, the tears stung my eyes for the passing of this man.  I remember vividly turning up the volume as my friend and I danced wildly under her garage to his songs.  We made up all sorts of dance moves, and we danced our hearts out to songs like “When Doves Cry,” “Little Red Corvette,” “Purple Rain,” etc.   And now, he is gone, but his music and memory will live on.

I’m not sure I was emotional due to any type of real attachment other than growing up listening to his music.  I think deep down I was so emotional due to the reminder that any moment it could be you or I that is called home.  Time is short.  Each day that passes we are losing people – some that are very near and dear to our hearts, while others are merely people we heard of whether they were in the public eye or a friend of a friend.  Each life is precious!

I’m reminded of my age and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.  I don’t want to leave my family.  I want to stay right here with my two daughters, my husband, and my parents living, loving, and enjoying life!  I’m sure Prince and all of the others gone before him wanted to remain with their families also, and yet, their time was cut short.

I realize that people are living longer lives these days.  I just heard of a woman celebrating her 100th birthday recently.  She is in pretty good health considering her age, although she does have a touch of dementia.  She recognizes her loved ones as family, but occasionally, she will not be able to call them by name.  But, she made it to 100 years old!  I hope I make it to 100 years old and am still in good health as well.

I have said for years that I want to be a very old woman rocking my great-great-grandchildren in my lap on my front porch.  I pray that God will grant me my heart’s desire.

It is such a sad, sad thought of having to leave my family one day.  I hope that God will allow me to live a lot longer than Prince, and yet I realize I am not guaranteed that gift.  No one is!

At the time of this writing, I am knocking on the door of 45.  I will be 45 years old this September.  The older I get, the more I realize that time truly does fly by.  I can’t seem to comprehend how, when I was younger, time seemed to crawl … and now it seems a year is gone in the blink of an eye.

I sit back and watch all of the “memories” that pop up on Facebook, and I just sit there at times staring at the screen.  It is so hard to believe that much time has gone by … two years … four years … the other day, a memory from six years ago popped up!  I was taken aback by it!  It did not seem like six years had passed since that moment in time, and yet … it had.

My point in all of this is to get busy LIVING while you still can.  Get out there and enjoy life.  Do what makes you happy and what brings you joy!  Spend time doing things that soothe your heart and soul.  Enjoy every moment possible with your family.  Don’t bury your head in your phone in their presence.  BE PRESENT for them and with them!

My parents are going to be 69 years old this year.  My mom’s birthday is just 10 days away.  I thank GOD for my parents and for allowing them to be on this earth for 69 years.  I pray that He allows them to have 30 more years here in good health, but I fear each and every day that something will happen to them.  I don’t want to ever lose my parents!  They were here just today visiting with me, and I thank God for each and every moment that I get to talk to them, hug them, and tell them that I love them.

I wish we could all live forever!  I know that when Jesus died on the cross, He gave us the gift of eternal life through Him if we only believe and ask Him into our hearts.  It’s losing people this side of heaven, though, that is so extremely heart wrenching.  When they join the angels in song up in Heaven, we are left behind mourning and grieving.  One sweet day, we will be reunited with them.  Until then, it is hard living our lives here on Earth without them.  From losing my sister, my granddaddy, my best friend in the whole world, it never gets easier when we lose someone we love.  It brings some comfort knowing that if we all have our hearts right, we will be reunited in Heaven … one sweet day.

Today, Prince’s family, friends, and fans are left behind to remember this music icon.  We put his songs on repeat and soak in every musical chord he played on his guitar, every note he sang, and we marvel at this music legend taken too soon.

And the doves cry.