It’s not a day for politics. It is only a day for sorrow and prayer. My prayer goes out to all the families of the victims of the Aurora Colorado shooting. But I was especially touched my one young man on twitter who lost his sister, Jessica Ghawi (Redfield), in the shooting. His name is Jordan Ghawi, he is a firefighter/paramedic here in Texas. His blog is here. Today he writes about what he has been through today, with a beautiful picture of his sister posted.

But heartwrenching as well is that Jessica also had a blog, and she recounts here about her experience in Canada. She was there at the Eaton Center Shooting in Toronto in early June. She describes how she had a funny feeling, and left the mall area just as shots rang out. She felt blessed to have been given a second chance:

“I was shown how fragile life was on Saturday. I saw the terror on bystanders’ faces. I saw the victims of a senseless crime. I saw lives change. I was reminded that we don’t know when or where our time on Earth will end. When or where we will breathe our last breath. For one man, it was in the middle of a busy food court on a Saturday evening.

I say all the time that every moment we have to live our life is a blessing. So often I have found myself taking it for granted. Every hug from a family member. Every laugh we share with friends. Even the times of solitude are all blessings. Every second of every day is a gift. After Saturday evening, I know I truly understand how blessed I am for each second I am given.”

In this digital age our thoughts live on after us. They leave a imprint on this world after we are gone. Words that tell us about who we are, what we care about, and how we live. It would do us all well to remember that as we sit at our keyboards. These words of her’s tell us so much about Jessica. They show us a person deeply understanding of a profound truth about life, and that is that we are to cherish it, and let go of the unimportant things that weigh us down. We are blessed to have this life, however long we have it. And we should embrace that “every second of every day,” because it is indeed a gift. She reminds us to love our family, hug them every chance you get. Her words tell us her wisdom. They reach out to us in a profound way. Many more will read her words than she ever imagined would.

We never know the things we leave behind, and what they will mean to people.

If you are reading this, know you are blessed with this life, right now. Close your eyes for a moment and realize it. Hold on to it. A grateful heart is chosen.

It is surreal that Jessica experienced this just last month in another city, in another country, and then came home to experience it again, but not survive this time. But her words give us profound guidance. None of us are promised tomorrow. As Jessica so wisely pointed out, every single day is a blessing. Let us never forget it. Let us wake up tomorrow knowing this, embracing this. Let us wake up every day after doing the same. I think Jessica would have loved for that to be her legacy.

To Jordan, I give you my deepest sympathies. May God comfort your family and you as you walk the saddest of roads.