Life is too short

You do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while, and then vanishes. (James 4.14)

August 3.  He worked for a trucking company.  She had gotten a job at an accounting firm.  A couple months ago they had seen their oldest daughter married in a beautiful church wedding.  Last month the younger twin daughters had been accepted into the colleges of their choice, one to Dallas Baptist University, and the other into the nursing program at Tarrant County Community College.
Life was good.
He called her.  "You want to take off work and be with me today?" he asked her.  It was a week day, a work day, but he had the day off.  She took the day off to be with him.  They went to breakfast, then headed north on I-35 toward WinStar Casino in Oklahoma.
She held his hand.  Traffic got pretty slow just south of Gainesville.  Construction on the northbound section of the highway caused a line of cars to creep along, then come to a complete stop.  They didn't worry, though.  They had all day.
Life was good.
Then it all ended.
A loaded tractor-trailer rig was headed north on the highway, some twenty minutes behind them.  The driver ignored the SLOW--CONSTRUCTION AHEAD signs flashing lazily that hot summer day.  The cab of the truck had an AM/FM stereo, but the signal from the Dallas station was fading.  The driver looked down just for a minute to find a new station, one that came in clearer.  Then, tragically, he hit the line of stopped cars going 55 miles an hour.
Life was over for the couple enjoying each other's company.  They would not see the birth of their first grandson.  They would not see their twin daughters go to their first day of college classes.  Thankfully, they would see Jesus that day.
It's been two years now, and many in their extended family have taken time today to reflect back on the couple's lives.  Joys for having known them.  Regrets for not doing more with them, or for them while they were here with us.  Two years since our lives were changed irrevocably.
"I should have played one more round of golf with him."
"I should have apologized for that thing I said to her."
"We should have had them over one more time for dinner."
Now, until we see them in Glory, those chances are forever lost.
Maybe that's what James meant when he wrote, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." (James 4.17)  Life is too short for regrets.  The best way to avoid them is to confess and repent right then, and do whatever you can to restore fellowship.  Jesus gave an example to His followers.  He knew that volumes had been written in the Old Testament scriptures about the importance of giving offerings to God.  And yet He said this:

Therefore, if you are offering your gifts at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First, go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5.23-24)

Maintaining fellowship with your brother is more important that your giving an offering to God.  See, God doesn't need your offering, but you need your brother.  "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27.17).  "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3.13).  "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10.25).

I did not foresee the Day that my brother-in-law would be taken from us.  My sister-in-law has no more Tomorrows to share.
I miss you both. 
Will see you in Heaven, Goofy.  Take care of Snowflake.