On our third date, Scott and I had a long conversation about where “this” was going. We talked about what we wanted for the future, and I remember my neurotic tendencies enveloping it all. Finally, Scott grabbed my hands, looked me in the eyes, and said, “You’re gonna be my girl.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I smiled. Looking into his eyes, I felt the sincerity emanate from him. This was it. I was his. He was mine.
What neither of us realized then is that we don’t get to keep people. They are lent to us for an undetermined period of time. . As much as we can “claim” someone on this earth. The truth is that nothing truly belongs to us. The only things we possess of our own are thoughts, feelings, and spirit.
This is something that I quickly realized after having my oldest daughter. Holding her in the hospital and again, looking into her curious eyes, I knew. She wasn’t mine. She was my DNA. Her title in this life would be my daughter, but my responsibility was only to guide her on the ways of the world. And funny enough, many times now, she’s the one who guides me.
Eventually, she will leave me. She will have a family of her own to tend to, and it will hurt. If I’ve done my job right though, she will flourish on her own. This is my perspective with all of my children. Of course, I would later learn a deeper version of this lesson.
—-
Scott died on the phone with me. Mid sentence. One moment he was “mine”. The next he was “gone”.
I knew, before, that life was short. I went to bed every single night and prayed to God, listing off the things in my life that I was grateful for. I said I love you. A lot. And still, nothing could have ever prepared me for the way my life would literally become the cliche that everything can change in an instant.
I’ve asked “why” often since Scott was taken, and that’s an answer I won’t get in this lifetime. My “why’s” began with desperation, then they were bitter; then they came from a place of deep sadness and defeat… Now, I find myself slowly growing into humility.
Why?
Only He knows.
The answer isn’t for me to understand, but what I’m learning for sure is that people are lent to us. They come into our lives to teach us. They teach us in the literal sense, but moreover, they teach us in their actions and way of being. The relationships we form, both atrocious and Godly, contribute to our growth. They prepare us for something bigger.
And for today anyways, I’m going let go of all possession and to look to bigger things.
Wow! I couldn’t have said it better myself having lost my son in 2006. God Bless you and your family!
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Thank you, Nancy. 🙏🏻
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You are a beautiful person, Megan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for the reminder that life is precious. ❤️
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Thank you, Tiffany. ❤️
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Beautifully said Megan. Great perspective, you are so astute in your understanding that people are not ours to keep only to love as best we can. This was a difficult lesson and your beautiful soul put it where it belongs. Your children are lucky to have you as their guide❤❤❤
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That is so kind, Julie. Thank you.
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