John Burtis October 22 at 6:15pm
I wanted to say hello and thank you for letting me become a facebook friend of yours.
Life can be too short, indeed. Although I was never injured while serving as a firefighter, I was killed as a police officer, when I was dragged down Wilshire Boulevard by an automobile at 55mph. I was pronounced dead and lay in a coma for three days after I struck the pavement bareheaded. It took me 8 months to return to work, overcoming a broken neck, amnesia, aphasia, brain damage, and a severe cerebral concussion.
Today I have a metal neck, a metal right shoulder, and cadaver bones in my left foot, among my 14 surgeries.
As a result, I tell my wife that I love her every single day and greet her at the door every night. And I try to send a note to every facebook friend, like you, and make them unique, depending on their favorite quotes and goals.
Life is certainly an interesting trip. Make sure that you have the right pilot.
John in NH.
Life can be too short, indeed. Although I was never injured while serving as a firefighter, I was killed as a police officer, when I was dragged down Wilshire Boulevard by an automobile at 55mph. I was pronounced dead and lay in a coma for three days after I struck the pavement bareheaded. It took me 8 months to return to work, overcoming a broken neck, amnesia, aphasia, brain damage, and a severe cerebral concussion.
Today I have a metal neck, a metal right shoulder, and cadaver bones in my left foot, among my 14 surgeries.
As a result, I tell my wife that I love her every single day and greet her at the door every night. And I try to send a note to every facebook friend, like you, and make them unique, depending on their favorite quotes and goals.
Life is certainly an interesting trip. Make sure that you have the right pilot.
John in NH.
Trisha Tomlinson Armstrong October 22 at 8:55pm
John -
You truly have a testimony that will surely change lives. So often times, people don't take the time to enjoy what life they do have....they just reminisce about what they used to have or what they could have - and never relish in the beauty of what God has blessed them with. I truly believe that each and every circumstance in our life, both good and bad, are perfectly orchestrated to shape us into the person we were intended to be, and in turn, our obligation to share our life experiences with others so that they can understand TRUE happiness, which is not found in money, materialism, or our economy. I appreciate you sharing your story with me and I look forward to gaining more wisdom from you in the future while networking here on Facebook.
With your permission, I would love to post this short conversation on my blog....I will wait for your response. Until then, Bless you and have a good evening!
Trisha
Oftentimes, outside appearances aren't what you may imagine... Through several tragic events in my own life and of my family's, we understand that we must NEVER take life for Granted. Life can be taken from you in a blink of an eye. Life is too short to live miserably. Life is too short NOT to love and love wholeheartedly. Life is too short to live like you have forever! I know, firsthand, that that is not the case! Live, Love, and Laugh just like you may not have another opportunity. As I listen to my first husband's heart beat for the very last time, I then realized that I will never be able to tell him again how much I love him. And with that experience....I don't ever want to miss the opportunity to tell my husband, Darrell, how much I love him. I don't ever want to miss the opportunity to tell my Children how much I love them, nor do I want to miss the opportunity to tell my friends how important they are in my life.
Life life to the fullest. Yes, plan for the future, but live for today and make darn sure that people that are close to you KNOW how much they mean.
You truly have a testimony that will surely change lives. So often times, people don't take the time to enjoy what life they do have....they just reminisce about what they used to have or what they could have - and never relish in the beauty of what God has blessed them with. I truly believe that each and every circumstance in our life, both good and bad, are perfectly orchestrated to shape us into the person we were intended to be, and in turn, our obligation to share our life experiences with others so that they can understand TRUE happiness, which is not found in money, materialism, or our economy. I appreciate you sharing your story with me and I look forward to gaining more wisdom from you in the future while networking here on Facebook.
With your permission, I would love to post this short conversation on my blog....I will wait for your response. Until then, Bless you and have a good evening!
Trisha
Oftentimes, outside appearances aren't what you may imagine... Through several tragic events in my own life and of my family's, we understand that we must NEVER take life for Granted. Life can be taken from you in a blink of an eye. Life is too short to live miserably. Life is too short NOT to love and love wholeheartedly. Life is too short to live like you have forever! I know, firsthand, that that is not the case! Live, Love, and Laugh just like you may not have another opportunity. As I listen to my first husband's heart beat for the very last time, I then realized that I will never be able to tell him again how much I love him. And with that experience....I don't ever want to miss the opportunity to tell my husband, Darrell, how much I love him. I don't ever want to miss the opportunity to tell my Children how much I love them, nor do I want to miss the opportunity to tell my friends how important they are in my life.
Life life to the fullest. Yes, plan for the future, but live for today and make darn sure that people that are close to you KNOW how much they mean.
One of my favorite quotes from the Bible is the "like a thief in the night" passage. Our transition into the next phase of our existence will happen the same way. We have to be ready and as you say, live for today!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this inspiring story.
Chip
Thank you for sharing this story and by doing so introducing us to John. I would hope that John could also become my friend. Every day is a miracle and each one we receive is a blessing.
ReplyDeleteThis is a touching story. The challenges life throws at us not only make us stronger but allow us to see with total clarity what is really important. I lost my older son to cancer a year and one half ago. It was by far the most devastating experience of our lives, but more importantly it was a time of amazing bonding between my son and I for the six months that we fought together against his terrible illness. We also were given a sign that the presence of God in our lives is very powerful and real. This allowed us to comprehend that death is not an end but a transition.
ReplyDelete