Lesson 14: You Should Be Here

On Saturday I graduated from UNT. Everyone was there to celebrate my biggest accomplishment yet. But you weren’t.

            It was a bittersweet moment. I knew that you were watching from heaven, beaming with pride, but that’s not how I imagined it would be. Cole Swindell’s new song “You Should Be Here” says it best.

“You know if I had one wish,

It’d be that you didn’t have to miss this.

You should be here.”

            You should’ve been sitting next to Mom and Morgan. I should have heard “WOOOO Bubba!!!” when my name was called. You should be in all the pictures, smiling and putting bunny ears behind Mama’s head. But you weren’t.

            This was one of many big moments that we’ve felt your absence. All the birthdays, holidays, and special events just haven’t been the same. And they never will be. We’ll always feel a void where you should be - and not just because you were such a big fella.

            Since I was eight years old, you were there for all the important things. I hate the thought that you can’t be here for them anymore. We miss you so much. Still, I’m happy knowing that you were always proud of me, and that you’d be proud of me for graduating college too.

            Love, Bubba