Every morning (ok, almost every morning) the first thing I do is get my wife a glass of OJ and put it on her night table. She really appreciates that! This morning I walked to the kitchen and turned towards the fridge, but the fridge was not there! No, I was not dreaming. This morning we are having a new fridge delivered and we had the old one taken away last night. I chuckled when I turned to the fridge and, half asleep, reached for the door, finding nothing there. So, I went to the basement to our small fridge and got my wife her OJ.

As I type this, sitting in the dining room, I am looking across where we have certain family pictures. There are pictures of my father-in-law and mother-in-law, God rest their souls. About six months ago my mom passed away and we placed her picture alongside. I miss her so much! Just last week my dad passed away and we added his picture to the “memorial.” My heart is sad. Both my parents gone in a matter of months. I am 62, however, and blessed to have had them for as long as I did.

Not to compare a missing fridge to missing parents, but it occurred to me that there is something worth noting. The fridge was there every single morning. Every morning I would reach out to it. Every morning I would open it’s door. But this morning the fridge was not there. I could not reach out and open it’s door, although I did reach out. This morning, the fridge was no longer there.

My parents are no longer here. I am not able to go to them. I am not able to reach out to them. I am no longer able to “open their doors,” the doors to their hearts and minds. It was so much a part of my life, being able to do that. It was the most natural thing to do. There might not be anything more natural in life. And the thing is, unlike my fridge, I am not waiting for new parents to be delivered.

My message to kids of all ages is to enjoy your parents. Always reach out to them and look to open the doors to their hearts and minds. The day will come when you will no longer be able to do that. When that time comes, you will feel like you are dreaming or like you are half-asleep. You will want to reach out to them, but they will no longer be there. Love them, cherish them, and be there for them, now, while you can.