Bittersweet
My heart is broken, again. And today is Kyle's birthday; that's what makes this bittersweet.
I'm living and loving through losing* even more. Today I gathered with extended family, the precious family that my daughter has the privilege of being a part of through marriage; to say good-bye to a wonderful lady, a dear and loving soul, and a friend. She is gone too soon, much too soon. She was taken to her heavenly home suddenly, unexpectedly, this past Satuday after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm while out walking with her little canine companion. No one can quite comprehend that this is real, yet. But sadly, it is. I am moved, deeply moved, by the words of her Pastor. He entitled his sermon: "Words to Live and Die By", and I have to admit right up front that when I scanned the printed bulletin before the service began I thought it sounded too blunt, too morbid. I wasn't impressed. I am also happy to be proven wrong-- to be reminded, once again, not to assume anything. The sermon was, in a word, AWESOME! The Pastor spoke the kindest, most loving, caring and inspiring words. Words that I needed to hear... right then. Sadly, I wonder how much the grieving family heard. I hope the Pastor can provide them with a written copy, they will cherish it in the days, weeks and years to come. He spoke of the words that none of us have at a time like this. Words we find it so difficult to say, to come up with, when we need them. The first words were "Thank God for...". It is indeed right and appropriate to thank our God for the person we have loved and lost. To express our gratitude to Him for that life that meant so much to us. The second words were "I love you", so familiar and yet so hard sometimes to speak. The words God longs for us to speak to one another, His children; "I love you"... because He first loved us! The third words: "I believe". Oh, yes! I believe in so many things! I do truly believe in all that God has done so that I may live and love in that belief. (I believe that God understands, too; that I need reminding of this more than most! ... and it's still OK!!) And the last words, the hardest maybe to think of on the day when hearts were broken wide open, are the words of the Psalmist: "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it".
-Ps. 118: 24
Those words hold promise for all of us, for the future. We will go on. We will live and love again, and we will give thanks to God. I thank God today for my wonderful son, Kyle, on his birthday.
I thank God for His son who died that we may live and love today and everyday...
and,
I thank God for Mary Ann.
Life is good.
I believe that!
My heart is broken, again. And today is Kyle's birthday; that's what makes this bittersweet.I'm living and loving through losing* even more. Today I gathered with extended family, the precious family that my daughter has the privilege of being a part of through marriage; to say good-bye to a wonderful lady, a dear and loving soul, and a friend. She is gone too soon, much too soon. She was taken to her heavenly home suddenly, unexpectedly, this past Satuday after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm while out walking with her little canine companion. No one can quite comprehend that this is real, yet. But sadly, it is. I am moved, deeply moved, by the words of her Pastor. He entitled his sermon: "Words to Live and Die By", and I have to admit right up front that when I scanned the printed bulletin before the service began I thought it sounded too blunt, too morbid. I wasn't impressed. I am also happy to be proven wrong-- to be reminded, once again, not to assume anything. The sermon was, in a word, AWESOME! The Pastor spoke the kindest, most loving, caring and inspiring words. Words that I needed to hear... right then. Sadly, I wonder how much the grieving family heard. I hope the Pastor can provide them with a written copy, they will cherish it in the days, weeks and years to come. He spoke of the words that none of us have at a time like this. Words we find it so difficult to say, to come up with, when we need them. The first words were "Thank God for...". It is indeed right and appropriate to thank our God for the person we have loved and lost. To express our gratitude to Him for that life that meant so much to us. The second words were "I love you", so familiar and yet so hard sometimes to speak. The words God longs for us to speak to one another, His children; "I love you"... because He first loved us! The third words: "I believe". Oh, yes! I believe in so many things! I do truly believe in all that God has done so that I may live and love in that belief. (I believe that God understands, too; that I need reminding of this more than most! ... and it's still OK!!) And the last words, the hardest maybe to think of on the day when hearts were broken wide open, are the words of the Psalmist: "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it".
-Ps. 118: 24
Those words hold promise for all of us, for the future. We will go on. We will live and love again, and we will give thanks to God. I thank God today for my wonderful son, Kyle, on his birthday.
I thank God for His son who died that we may live and love today and everyday...
and,
I thank God for Mary Ann.
Life is good.
I believe that!
* previous post
4 comments:
"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it".
How true that is... Thank you mom!
I believe it is supposed to be "let us be glad and rejoice in it".... The camp blessing just popped into my head...
It's difficult to know what to say. But I do know that I have profound respect for the strength of your faith, and you are a teacher to me in that way. So I'm thankful for that.
Please give a round of hugs from Chicago when you see Morgan's family. I haven't exactly been the "hands on" cousin to Marcia, which I regret, but I do care deeply for their surprising loss and wish there was something I could do or say.
God bless you all down there in NC. Take care.
I'm so sorry to hear this. Please extend our deepest sympathies.
And please, everyone who is reading this, hug the people you love and tell them how much they mean to you...
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