Today I was driving down a rural Iowa road when a farm place caught my eye. The house, barns and acreage were obviously abandoned years ago. The weeds were up to the windows of the house, the grass reclaimed so much of the driveway it was barely noticeable and the barn was a pale wood brown from all of the paint chipping away. Not an uncommon sight driving across rural Iowa.

What I found interesting about this farm, though, was the elevator was still set up to carry bales into the loft of the barn. It was a rust red from sitting out in the elements year after year. I started to wonder about the family that called this place home so many years ago. What happened to them? Why did they leave so quickly they did not take the time to lower the elevator? Whatever happened, life changed so quickly they did not complete the simple task of taking down the elevator.

I forget how short life can be. Life is fragile and can be taken away from us in an instant. My father died suddenly from a heart attack in 2006. I never had the chance to say goodbye.

As we approach this holiday season, please remember what life is really about. It is not about the expensive toys. This special time of year is about our relationships and spending time with family and friends. It is the small joys of a hug from a loved one, the smile on a child’s face and the chance to share stories with family members you may only rarely see.

Life is fragile. You never know when it will be taken away from you. Treasure every moment and focus on the joys over the toys.