If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

A farmer owned an old mule that fell into a well.
After assessing the situation, the farmer reluctantly concluded that neither the mule nor the well was worth saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and enlisted them to help bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially the old mule was frantic, but as the dirt kept hitting his back,
something happened. It dawned on the mule that every time a shovel
load landed on his back, he should SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!
This he did, blow after blow. Shake it off and step up...Shake it off
and step up. No matter how painful the blows or how distressing the
situation, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on
SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

Before long, the old mule, battered and exhausted,
stepped triumphantly through the mouth of that well. What seemed
like it would bury him, actually helped him...All because
of how he handled his adversity.

Such is life. If we face our problems and respond to them positively, refusing to surrender to panic, bitterness, or self-pity, the adversities that come along to bury us usually possess the potential to benefit us in some unexpected way.

Hurricane Charley and now Hurricane Francis have demolished much of Florida yet it is the resilience of the people that is truly amazing. Changes that come about after life changing adversity require hope and perseverance.

My sister Wendy battles her MS symptoms every day. My brother has overcome a myriad of challenges both personally and professionally. My sister Bonnie has faced challenges as she started her own business. People everyday are learning to find ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" to find hope and strength in their hearts and spirits to face the new day.