What REALLY Matters in This Life

[InsanitysAngel]

This really puts things into perspective and highlights our tendency towards petty squabbles that don't amount to a hill of beans. I thought the story was awesome.

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/7382954/detail.html?subid=22100413&qs=1;bp=t

Icy Rescue Leads To Reunion Of Brothers

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Two brothers separated for more than 20 years have been brought together by an incredible rescue, KMBC's Kris Ketz reported.

Monday, a man with one leg crawled out onto the thin ice of a Topeka pond to help rescue three young girls who broke through it, using a crutch to reach one of them.

John Hodges said he risked his life because he "was a child of God and (he) was helping some other child."

Hodges' long-lost brother saw the story in Wichita. The brothers had not spoken for more than 20 years.......................

[vervilledeb1]

Funny how a traumatic event in life will bring some people together huh?

Unfortunately, people get into squabbles over little things and it festers for years and years. And there are many times that it's too late to say the things we should have said. People do not realize the hurt and heartache it causes in some of lifes decisions. Only when its too late do they realize how petty things actually were.

[InsanitysAngel]

Yes, I have a sister that is going to experience the "it's too late" syndrome one day I believe. No one can do it for her though.

[vervilledeb1]

Yes, I have a sister that is going to experience the "it's too late" syndrome one day I believe. No one can do it for her though.

That is the sad reality of it all. Some people cannot or will not see past the judgements they have made and realize that human life is only so long. It can be taken from us tomorrow. I have this saying I tell my kids. We don't leave the house without saying we love each other..it could be the last time we say it. And as big as my teens are they leave this house with their friends and they ALWAYS say it. Even the macho boys call me to check in and its always ended with "I love you". Its three words but it could mean the world if forgotten just once.

[InsanitysAngel]

That's awesome Debby! You must be very proud.

You know, the more I think about it, my sister might not even realize what she's done when it IS too late. She is that self-centered.

[vervilledeb1]

That's awesome Debby! You must be very proud.

You know, the more I think about it, my sister might not even realize what she's done when it IS too late. She is that self-centered.

Its too bad people are like this. Funny thing is the people I know that are like this are those that have had most things handed to them. Almost like they never had to want or were in need for anything. Instead of being thankful they have this attitude that things will always be done for them. And when it doesn't happen they become more self-centered and the world has to revolve around them and it doesn't matter who they hurt in the long run. In the end they are the ones who end up alone I think.

[InsanitysAngel]

That would be my sister, yes.

[Faucet]

wow that sucks for you to know that your sister might end up like that. :sad3: Hopefully she'll realize how it is and become better but that's a minimal chance. That is one sad story but I don't think that it was such a petty squabble if the brother was od'ing on drugs so much. I could see people splitting because of that.

[NicoMoon]

wow that sucks for you to know that your sister might end up like that. :sad3: Hopefully she'll realize how it is and become better but that's a minimal chance. That is one sad story but I don't think that it was such a petty squabble if the brother was od'ing on drugs so much. I could see people splitting because of that.

Oh Faucet, here I am responding to you, and I forgot to welcome you!

Welcome to Livewire!!

I was thinking the same thing about the crack addict brother. Maybe they needed 20 years apart. No one needs to try to have a relationship with a drug addict.

It's sad when families split apart, but there are instances where it's for the best. Some people are so much trouble that we're better off without them. I'm all for loving families like Debby's, that's the best thing in life, but I'm also pragmatic enough to know that people can get into some pretty unhealthy situations with others just so they can say they have a relationship.

For me the issue is whether or not a relationship is a happy, healthy, and gratifying one. If it's not, I don't care if it's my brother, sister, or even my mother, I'm ready to cut and run.

The best thing would be for us all to get along, no question, but that isn't always how it goes!

In the situation with these two brothers, maybe they needed the 20 years, and the good part is that they found each other before it was too late for them to have some good time together.

[NicoMoon]

You know, the more I think about it, my sister might not even realize what she's done when it IS too late. She is that self-centered.

That's a sad situation, IA! I come from a large family, and we have our MIAs too. I hope you find some peace about the situation. I do know that it's not worth torturing ourselves over self-centered people. They surely don't return the favor!

It's nice to think that people will get over themselves, and sometimes they do, but sometimes they don't. It's a tough reality to face. I know!

[LightHeart]

That's a sad situation, IA! I come from a large family, and we have our MIAs too. I hope you find some peace about the situation. I do know that it's not worth torturing ourselves over self-centered people. They surely don't return the favor!

It's nice to think that people will get over themselves, and sometimes they do, but sometimes they don't. It's a tough reality to face. I know!
Some times you don't realize just how tough the reality is, When my father passed, there was a huge explosion and my mother, sister and brother all told me they wanted no further contact with me. I knew it was bound to happen, and I also know it wasn't going to happen while my father was alive. Over the months I have tried to reach out twice only to have it thrown at me, Hubby says I did my part by reaching out, and thats all one can do.

And the reason behind it is so stupid, growing up my family kept alot of "secrets" from me, just before my dad died, another family member told me somethings. Well me and my big mouth brought some of it up after my dad's funeral, not to cause trouble but to gain some understanding. The only thing I gained was what I really knew along, that my family never did like me.

But you know thats ok, I have my family here. I have my husband, my children and my pets. And Hey I have all of you that have welcomed me into your home And that is what really matters in "my" life.

[vervilledeb1]

Some times you don't realize just how tough the reality is, When my father passed, there was a huge explosion and my mother, sister and brother all told me they wanted no further contact with me. I knew it was bound to happen, and I also know it wasn't going to happen while my father was alive. Over the months I have tried to reach out twice only to have it thrown at me, Hubby says I did my part by reaching out, and thats all one can do.

And the reason behind it is so stupid, growing up my family kept alot of "secrets" from me, just before my dad died, another family member told me somethings. Well me and my big mouth brought some of it up after my dad's funeral, not to cause trouble but to gain some understanding. The only thing I gained was what I really knew along, that my family never did like me.

But you know thats ok, I have my family here. I have my husband, my children and my pets. And Hey I have all of you that have welcomed me into your home And that is what really matters in "my" life.

Excellent post Lightheart. But it was NOT your big mouth that caused the explosion it was the wanting to understand things and the desire to understand where you came from, which is natural for all human beings. We cannot fix others and their beliefs no matter how much we would like to live in the perfect world. I have been disowned by family and at the time it was heartbreaking and depressing. Only when I came to acknowledge that the problem was NOT mine that I was able to accept it. Human nature still has me wondering as to how people can be so cruel. And in time I had to learn to accept things I could not change. Its a HUGE lesson to teach my children and as they get older they ask questions and all I can do is give them my honest answers. And its quite depressing when the reality hits that you have to teach the kids that life can be cruel but it can also be beautiful. I too have accepted that is "my" life and I have one chance to live it. We cannot relive yesterday BUT we can look forward to tomorrow and do our personal best to make it memorable to someone..be it human or furbaby. At the end of the day if we can stop and think as to what we did in somebody elses life that brought about that one smile, kitty purr, or tail wag then I think we are doing okay. And amazingly, sometimes it's what we do that may be the littlest gesture of kindness to us seems huge to the person or otherwise accepting it.

[InsanitysAngel]

"Where has he been? How did he lose his leg? And then, I'm going to ask him if he knew his mother and father passed away," William Hodges said.


This is the part that's sad. Either one of them could have died in that 20 years and their parents DID pass on, and the one guy never knew.

While my sister does not speak to me or another sister, she does still speak to my oldest sister, so we all do know what's going on in each others lives. We just don't get together.

The total isolation is sad, no one deserves that. That man was robbed of the opportunity to attend his parent's funeral. That will not happen in my family, although my sister may CHOOSE not to attend, she'll still be aware of it.

[InsanitysAngel]

wow that sucks for you to know that your sister might end up like that. :sad3: Hopefully she'll realize how it is and become better but that's a minimal chance. That is one sad story but I don't think that it was such a petty squabble if the brother was od'ing on drugs so much. I could see people splitting because of that.

WELCOME TO LIVEWIRE FAUCET!

We're glad to have you!

My sister's problems are of her own making. Luckily I don't own any part of what she has done.

:D

[Destiny]

Oh to be able to understand how people think! If just one person could figure out the complex human mind I think alot of problems could be solved.

[teenwire]

Wow! This is a great story, very touching. A lesson in life. A family will always stay a family no matter what. No matter what bad experience you may encounter with your love ones, we still love and care for them in a way that cannot be replaced by anything else.:worthy:

[womanistic]

Sometimes, painful experienced need a lot of time to heal. what seems petty to some may be a major issue to the one concerned. In due time they should make amends and not take it to their graves. One party has to submit to reconciliation to make both ends meet.

[eldragon]

And I see the selfish choices that some people continue to make, yet they wonder why they have no peace or luck. They can't stop whining or looking for the pot of gold without hard work. Always expecting a windfall. However, it's up to them to wake up and smell the coffee, as I did several years ago.