If Tomorrow Never Comes
If we knew it would be the last time
that we'd see you fall asleep,
We would tuck you in more tightly
And pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If we would have known it would be the last time
that we'd see you walk out the door,
We'd given you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.
If we knew it would be the last time
we would be there to share your day,
We did talk to you
and didn't let this one slip away.
We, your parents, never took for granted
that there would be a tomorrow
and never had to makeup for an oversight,
We didn't depend on second chances to make everything right.
We didn't wait for another day to say our "I love You's",
Or to say, "Is there anything we can do's?"
We know that we weren't wrong for
June 23, 2002 was the last day we had with you,
To say just how much we love you
and would take it home with you.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
June 23rd was the last chance
we had to hold our son tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
Why not do it today?
We didn't wait for our tomorrows,
But if your tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn't take that extra time for a smile,
a hug, or a kiss, and you were too busy
to grant someone what turned out to be their last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today,
whisper in their ear as we did John,
Tell them how much you loved them
and that they are always dear to you,
Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"please forgive me,"
"thank you"
or "it's okay".
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.
Why Not Do It Today?
This was written by Norma Burnett
and I edited some of it to fit this situation.
We are fortunate, I talked to John
before he was gone. It doesn't take away all this emptiness.
We know how Mary felt with losing Jesus, her son, a life which she had
given life too. John's favorite quote, Footprints In The
Sand. How fitting for John, he left Footprints In
Everyone's Hearts. The Lord placed an Angel in our family.
He was doing The Lord's work and we didn't know it,
then found out so many good things he did for so many
people around us. Thank you Lord for giving us 28 years
with John and a ton of pictures / memories to share.
I do have a tattoo of John on my leg and he does go
everywhere with me. We love you son and we know now
why it was your time to go. We are so proud of you.
Our son's work here was completed.
The Lord knew your physical pain,
so He guided you home.
Thank you Lord for ending his suffering and giving
him a new life with You.
Updated 2/5/2007
John was a very high spirited young man, even as a child. He always had a smile on his face even when he was ill enough and taken to the hospital with a temp of 104. Doctors could not believe he was as ill as he was and wear a smile. He never met a stranger. I told this boy he would be the death of me over his open friendliness, treating new acquaintances like he'd always known them his lifetime in this corrupt world. The freedom he carried was a breathe of fresh air. He was a true joy to be around. He was a comedian too.
Example of his character:
I do not remember what went on, but I was giving him lip service for his own protection. He threw me over his shoulder ( me 180 ) and on the way down the hall he said, " Listen Ole Woman, I love you with all my heart. He opened my bedroom door, tossed me on the bed, told me I needed to settle down and take a nap, I would feel better when I wake up and he shut the door." I jumped off the bed and tried to open the door and couldn't because he was holding the knob and snickering on the other side. He knew I couldn't get out the window. I never did hear him go away from the door, or how long I was giving lip service to just that door,but 10 minutes later I tried the door and it opened and he was no where in the house. How does a 300 pound young man slip out without a sound? Note on inside front door read, I love you Mummy Dearest, Love Johnny. No matter how old he was, he hugged me, kissed me, and always told me he loved me. He made his friends hug and kiss me one day. After they were gone, I found it so humorous, I laughed myself into tears and laughed more. Do you know from that point on, his friends did it on there own to me? All of his close friends called me Mom and those who knew of him called me Mrs. Minter. He demanded that everyone show and treat me with respect and he made them all respect there parents. Where did all of this come from? Johnny was very active so you know that weight he carried wasn't fat. He couldn't sit still. I would go over and watch all them play the neighborhood football behind the church and I took my first aide kit. It took 6 to tackle him down. Naturally, who was always thrown the ball?
He was patient with fishing, lol. We'd go fishing and if he didn't have a fish in 10 minutes he was bored. If he had a hit and lost it near the bank, he'd throw his pole in the river. I'd shake my head and say, I'll get it. I always had an extra pole so I could fish the pole back out by dragging the area with large treble hook. I was Mom and Dad both to them. If he found out that there was an older person living by themselves, he would stop and check on them to see if they needed anything or needed to go anywhere. He even took them to doctors appointments and would grocery shop for them. He would bring two boxes in the house once a week and cook up a huge meal, spread styro foam plates on the table and serve all the food into them, then take and staple plates on top. We'd butter three loaves of bread and put two slices to a baggy. Out the door he would go with the food and a case of bottled water. I could go on, but I won't. Now maybe you understand why I miss him so. The Lord gave me a true gift when he was born. His smile would melt your heart and you knew he could be trusted. If you have noticed, I am not bragging on him. I am telling you things that amazed me with him. He had my respect.
Love you,
Dee
John Hart Minter Jr.
6/10/74 thru 6/23/2002
Parents: Vivian Minter Hutson
Richard Hutson - stepdad 29 years
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