My three year old son kissed me this morning as I left to work out at the gym. Immediately following his gesture, he instructed me, "Keep my kiss with you." "I will." I promised walking out the door, touched by his sentiments and the thought of him giving me something I could carry with me all day.
For an hour on the treadmill I watched the devastating news of the highway 35W bridge that fell down during rush hour last night in Minneapolis. My heart hurled to my feet when I first learned of the incident. Metaphorically I know what it is like to have a bridge fall down in one’s life. I understand the definition of structurally deficient as for nearly two years I have lived without the foundation I once enjoyed. Like driving over a bridge without thought, I comprehend the shocking horror when without warning life comes crashing down. I believe it is normal to place ourselves into the situation at a point where we can reference. My heart prays for all the new widows who never knew that title would be bestowed on them today.
Then I think of Maddi blowing me a kiss goodbye this morning and Jordan telling me to catch it. How does he know so much about sweet farewells? And I think of all the last goodbyes of yesterday that people never knew were last goodbyes. Upon learning of this unexplainable disaster, my mind searched all the last conversations I had had with my siblings – wanting to hold onto those last encounters until I knew they were safe.
I think my son indeed knows more than me. For the best thing he could give me today was the kiss he told me to keep. I hope many others will kiss for keeps today. It’s a lasting keepsake in an unsteady, unpredictable and at times unkind world.
