Make that call...!

The sharp, piercing scream came from her mothers room and leaving everything she ran upstairs fearing the worst. Her mother was weeping uncontrollably, hunched over the morning paper. "She's gone," cried the old lady, "she's gone," and pointed to the obituary column. "I didn't even know she was sick. Oh my dearest sister, how could you go without telling me? How could you die before we could make up? Oh my little one. Couldn't you have given me one more day to come over and hold you before you left?"
The daughter looked at the obituary column and saw the photograph of her aunt, whom her mother had stopped talking to some years ago, after a silly though bitter fight. She watched her mother weep but offered no condolences. She had found the fight senseless and had seen the bitterness eating her mother day by day. "It's too late ma," she whispered, "its too late..!"
It was too late. And so often it's a little, just a little too late.
Today I write quoting from Phillips Brooks who talked one Sunday to the people who sat in front of him. Bitter, unbending people who he knew refused to forgive and forget:
"You who are letting miserable misunderstandings run on from year to year, meaning to clear them up someday;
"You who are keeping wretched quarrels alive because you cannot quite make up your mind that now is the day to sacrifice your pride and kill them;
"You who are passing men sullenly on the street, not speaking to them out of some silly spite, and yet knowing that it would fill you with shame and remorse if you heard that one of these men were dead tomorrow morning;
"You who are letting your neighbour starve, till you hear that he is dying of starvation;
"Or letting your friend's heart ache for a word of appreciation or sympathy, which you mean to give him some day;
"If you only could see and feel, all of a sudden that 'time is short,' how it would break the spell. How you would go instantly and do the thing which you might never have another chance to do..!"
After he spoke that Sunday, people who had never spoken to each other in years suddenly smiled and greeted each other…   and discovered it was what they had been wanting to do all along. Neighbours who had disliked and avoided each other walked home together and were astonished to find how very much they enjoyed doing it. Many who had been grudging and unkind firmly resolved to be more generous and kind in the future, more considerate of others.. and all at once they felt happier and more content, felt at peace with themselves and the world.
The words of Phillips Brooks struck a responsive chord in the hearts of many, whose lives went through a dramatic change from that day onward.
Today I urge you to do the same.
Forget past grievances. Bear with the faults of others even as you would have them bear with your own. Be patient and understanding. Life is too short to be petty and unkind.
Put down the paper after you have read this piece and make a call to someone you have not talked to for years, for life is short..!
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Make that call...!

The sharp, piercing scream came from her mothers room and leaving everything she ran upstairs fearing the worst. Her mother was weeping uncontrollably, hunched over the morning paper. Shes gone, cried the old lady, shes gone, and pointed to the obituary column. I didnt even know she was sick. Oh my dearest sister, how could you go without telling me? How could you die before we could make up? Oh my little one. Couldnt you have given me one more day to come over and hold you before you left? The daughter looked at the obituary column and saw the photograph of her aunt, whom her mother had stopped talking to some years ago, after a silly though bitter fight. She watched her mother weep but offered no condolences. She had found the fight senseless and had seen the bitterness eating her mother day by day. Its too late ma, she whispered, its too late..! It was too late. And so often its a little, just a little too late. Today I write quoting from Phillips Brooks who talked one Sunday to the people who sat in front of him. Bitter, unbending people who he knew refused to forgive and forget: You who are letting miserable misunderstandings run on from year to year, meaning to clear them up someday; You who are keeping wretched quarrels alive because you cannot quite make up your mind that now is the day to sacrifice your pride and kill them; You who are passing men sullenly on the street, not speaking to them out of some silly spite, and yet knowing that it would fill you with shame and remorse if you heard that one of these men were dead tomorrow morning; You who are letting your neighbour starve, till you hear that he is dying of starvation; Or letting your friends heart ache for a word of appreciation or sympathy, which you mean to give him some day; If you only could see and feel, all of a sudden that time is short, how it would break the spell. How you would go instantly and do the thing which you might never have another chance to do..! After he spoke that Sunday, people who had never spoken to each other in years suddenly smiled and greeted each other and discovered it was what they had been wanting to do all along. Neighbours who had disliked and avoided each other walked home together and were astonished to find how very much they enjoyed doing it. Many who had been grudging and unkind firmly resolved to be more generous and kind in the future, more considerate of others.. and all at once they felt happier and more content, felt at peace with themselves and the world. The words of Phillips Brooks struck a responsive chord in the hearts of many, whose lives went through a dramatic change from that day onward. Today I urge you to do the same. Forget past grievances. Bear with the faults of others even as you would have them bear with your own. Be patient and understanding. Life is too short to be petty and unkind. Put down the paper after you have read this piece and make a call to someone you have not talked to for years, for life is short..! [email protected]