The death this week of a Pike County High School student is a jarring reminder to all of us to treasure our time together.

Jarred Snell died while apparently working on his homework Wednesday night. His mother found him late that night, at the kitchen table and unresponsive.

It’s a tragic image, and one that tugs at the heart of parents throughout Pike County.

A young athlete, full of promise an love for life, is gone.

And, as friends and teachers remember Jarred Snell this week, they talked of a young man who was growing into positive role model for his peers.

But there is a lesson to be learned in this.

Each of us needs to treasure our time together and the opportunities each day holds for us.

As parents, we need to tell our children that we love them every day … And to take advantage of every chance we have to make our time together special.

It’s easy, as children grow into teenagers, to lose some of that connection, that natural bond.

We mustn’t let that happen. Because we have no guarantees in this life; even a young life can be taken, and the promise of what could have been will never be known.

We pray today for Jarred Snell’s family and friends, and for all the parents in Pike County who will hug their children and say a prayer of thanks for their time with us.