When God takes our loved ones from this earth too soon it seems terribly unfair. These goodbyes hurt the most because many times their stories appear unfinished. Because of this, we are left empty and question our own mortality.

These people have left indents on our hearts, on our minds, on our very souls. They have lifted us up and fixed our wings so we could fly. But now that they have flown away, what do we do? How do we continue to fly?

You can shed tears because you will no longer be able to physically hug them anymore. Or you can smile because you had the blessing to know them and experience life's joys with them. Those are everlasting memories.

You can no longer want to see tomorrow, because how could there possibly be a tomorrow without them here with you? Instead, you'd rather play yesterday over and over again. Or you can try to realize how precious life is. Look forward to tomorrow because of yesterday and with the hope that you'll continue to live a life that makes our angels in heaven smile down upon us.

You can remember them and what is lost. You can mourn each and every moment that can't happen now, the things you wish you could say and maybe even the things you wish you could unsay. Or you can cherish their memories. You can let them live on through you, at any time of the day and wherever you may be.

On tombstones there are dates. The day you are born and the day you die. There is a dash in between the two. How about that dash?

The dash symbolizes all the days we are fortunate enough to have lived. We cry over that small horizontal line because we know those are the days that matter the most.

I hope all our angels in heaven can read this, but most likely you're in your "dash phase." Each day counts for something: To be kind. To not anger easily. To respect one another. To be patient. To smile. To dream. To give. To love.

To LOVE in life and in death.

To the departed: You loved them, and they loved you. A certain redhead (Ed Sheeran) sang, "a life with love is a life that's been lived." At the end of the day, it doesn't matter the number of days we live, as long as those days have been full of so much love.

Love thy enemies, thy neighbors. Open your heart. Be a listener to those around you. But, to listen means there must be someone telling. So, be a teller too. We did this with those we mourn, and we should continue to do so with those still surrounding us.

Speak their names aloud, rejoice and have faith that we only part to meet again.

Let their memories be eternal.