As we matriculate through life, we will experience some mountain-top and valley-low experiences. Unfortunately, “LIFE” happens to the best of us!

I am currently vacationing in California with my family, and we are having a blast! Even though we are enjoying the beautiful weather, fellowshipping with old friends, enjoying some delicious foods, wonderful shopping excursions, and that quality family time that is so needed…life happened to one of my dearest friends that I have known since I was 11 years old; h

is grandmother passed. You do know that losing a loved one is not something that you can just sweep under the rug and continue on with life as usual. Your whole world begins to slow down, and eventually, your everyday routines are placed on hold!

For the first time in my life, I had the pleasure of being there for my friend! He is the type of person who is “ALWAYS” there for others, so I counted it a privilege to be there for him when he requested my assistance. Let me say this: when you are called upon to aide and assist someone who is in need, please make yourself available! We worked tirelessly for days, trying to make sure that the program was to his “Grandma’s” satisfaction. Now, I must admit, we burnt the midnight oil. Some nights, we talked on the phone until 2:30am in the morning and worked until midnight, and other nights…we didn’t even sleep! Well, I got about two and a half hours (but don’t tell him). At times, I wanted to ring his neck on some days, yet I held it together! HaHaHa

During this difficult time, I must say that he continues to see the glass as “Half Full” as opposed to “Half Empty.” I would ask him a million times a day, “How are you? Are you ok? Do you need me to do anything for you? Have you eaten? Gotten any rest?” I’m sure that I wore him out….but I wanted him to know that I was there and that he didn’t have to be everything to me, just like he was to others. My friend continued to tell me that he was ok! But his eyes said something totally different. He was exhausted to no end. However, he continued to stay positive and always had a pleasant outlook on life, family, and even the passing of his grandma! I really didn’t understand how he could be so strong and selfless at such a difficult time. I tell you the truth: the person that I met 11 years ago, the wonderful characteristics that he had back then, are still in effect.

Even though he took care of the entire arrangements of his grandmother, not one day that passed where we did not laugh, joke, and shared meaningful conversations about his grandma. After sharing some quality time with him, I was encouraged to the point that even I must continue to see the glass half full when the roads tend to get rough, and life happens to me! You want to know something? Seeing the glass half full has everything to do with our perception! When you decide that you are going to change the way that you see your situations – shifting from seeing the glass half empty to half FULL; you will discover that life really isn’t that bad. He shared with me over 20 years ago, “When the world gives you lemons, make lemonade”.

Let me leave this with you: Life Happens to the best of us. At times it tends to be unpredictable, uncertain, and even unkind, but we know that “ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD”. Start looking at YOUR glass HALF FULL instead of half empty! Life really isn’t that bad – Honest!