Wal Mart Hugs and Cell Phones

This has been a sad week--not overwhelmingly sad, but sadness that comes and goes and just seems to hang around in the background. I tell myself that is normal. Today I had to go to Wal Mart to finish up the grocery shopping. I was so near tears as I walked through the store. I felt so extremely alone. As I turned the corner in the cracker aisle, I saw Steve's aunt. She stopped and hugged me and asked how I was. She is one of those people who asks that and wants the truth, not just a "Fine, how are you?" answer. I told her I was struggling, and she stood there with me and talked, encouraged, and hugged some more. It was so encouraging. I know God sends people like that just when I need it. He wanted to give me a hug today, and he used Aunt Mary's arms. Then, later today, I called the cell phone company to cancel Steve's phone from my account. I haven't been able to find his phone, and I thought someone had taken it and was using it. The man checked and said that the phone hasn't been used. That leads me to believe that I have it around here somewhere, I just can't find it. He was going to cancel the phone, but I started crying and asked him if that meant the voicemail would also be gone. Of course, canceling the phone removes the voicemail. I told him that I sometimes call Steve's number just to hear him say his name. It's not even a whole message. The fake lady says, "You have reached the Sprint PCS mailbox of..." and then I hear Steve's voice say, "Steve." That's all...just one word, but it's his voice. I couldn't do it. I couldn't cancel the accout. The poor phone guy said it was ok and that I could leave it active for as long as I wanted. I'm glad no one is using it. Maybe I'll eventually find the phone. Regardless, I can still call and hear that precious voice say, "Steve." You know, one thing I have learned--love people while you still have them. I wish I could communicate just how important that is. So much of what we complain about just isn't important. Loving people, valuing them, encouraging them, that's what's important.