It is tempting to see our lives as being the product of a series of significant events
The graduation day that bears testimony to application, and promise
The interview that launches a prosperous career
The wedding day that unveils a bride, or groom, and their partner in life
The arrival of a newborn that simultaneously delivers parents and grandchildren,
maybe siblings and cousins too
The act of bravery that unearths a hero
The victories and achievements regarded by many as the hallmarks of success
The tragic deaths that leave behind widows, widowers, or orphans perhaps,
but without doubt countless tears
In truth it is the days in between these events that define who we are,
and what we have become
For it is the resilience we exhibit in the eye of adversity
The perseverance we show when our goals appear to have eluded us
The generosity of deed and spirit we offer to those less fortunate
The integrity we display in the face of temptation
The courage we draw upon when what we stand for is challenged
The unstinting loyalty we extend to those who most rely upon us
that will continue to resonate in the hearts and minds of those who knew us
long after those red letter days have been forgotten by all but ourselves