When was the last time you picked up the phone to call someone in apprehension? Perhaps it was something online related to a post. Do you know someone who rides a motorcycle? There’s people who have friends and family who’re overseas at places with much peril. Someone that makes your thoughts run with uncertainty, increased heart rate, reducing your hours of sleep at night. And those people whom we worry in these circumstances might tell us not to worry, but we do it anyway. The situation does not have be dire either; it can be as small as getting news that will upset your friend or family-perhaps it’s news of being laid off from a company. To tell them, would devastate you in the process, because all you can do is watch the pain your observing. What does this make you? Human.
I remember a couple years ago, my heart started to pound when Bianca (my dog) was nowhere to be in sight. It was later in the evening, and she needed to go outside for one last potty break before bedtime. The apartment complex had a patio, but also a grassy strip for her to use to accomplish her needs. Normally, she’s out there for 15-20 minutes before I let her back in. That time passed and I opened the sliding door to let her in. Only a gentle breeze. I peaked outside, calling her name only to realize the gate was cracked wide open. My heart dropped. Immediately, I rushed to the front door as if I was trying to beat the throw to home plate. By God’s grace, she only made it past the apartment next to me when I called her back in. Her listening to me was a surprising too, but I digress. In those two minutes, my worst fears steamrolled to my thought bubble. “What if she’s been roaming around the whole time? How far could she have gone? What if I don’t find her? How did that gate open?” When I am not working, she is with me for at least 80% of the day-the other 20% is for errands, or the rare times I do go out for socialization. I love her, but when those two minutes passed by, the attachment for her became real. Quite the epiphany.
The times that scare us the most, gives the most evidence of emotional attachment. In life, those closest to us can easily be taken for granted. Especially if you either see them a lot, or maybe that person takes care of himself well. Then, the time comes when God throw a curveball, waking you up from your slumber. We get into a slumber, because it’s assumed tomorrow is given. The presumption you’ll hear from him again, makes you static. It makes the relationship mundane-thus you stop trying to contribute into the relationship. It’s possible putting in the effort is tedious. After all, why fix something that isn’t broken? Next, you get with the news your friend is in the hospital, because of drug overdose. The shock is electrifying on your end, because it evoked how much you really cared. God humbles you.
It does not make you a bad person if you take someone for granted. You and I are fallible. That feeling of uneasiness when jarring events occur, only means you love that person. Yes, love. This generation seems afraid to talk about love, or say it aloud when it matters. Fearful what can happen to you if that bond becomes tenacious. It leaves room for venerability, with possibilities of a day when you’ll have no control of what’s to come. Bad things happen in life. Unlike the movies, the good guy doesn’t always win either. Seeing someone else in pain hurts you, because there is nothing one can do to undo the created harm-there’s no time machine. The world is a cold one. There’s outside forces always trying to bring those around you down. Thing is, if you want love, worrying is the price you pay. There are no promises I will live to see past this publication! There’s nothing set in stone for you either. What God allows, is to have the serenity to let go of the things we can’t control-control where you can. Therefore, protect the people you and I love affectively when they’re around us. Let them know through your actions of your love. Don’t stop working at it. Change the pace up if you must to avoid the redundancy. It gives reassurance to him the value he gives you. Most importantly, say the words, ‘I love you.’ Everyone needs to hear it. If the idea of something bad happening to him scares you, it’s love-it’s the price you pay, but worth the treasures in heaven.
Author’s Note: The masculine terms- him, he, his-follow the grammatical rule of referring both male and female.
Emotional Attachment
"It's the price you pay, but worth the treasures in heaven." I never thought about it that way -- that the sacrifices we make here for love are never wasted, but will be even more worth it when we get to heaven. Thanks for this perspective! Sweet family photo, too. :)