Since Dad passed it has been a whirlwind of activity and decisions. Due to mom’s precarious health and her request for a specific speaker at dad’s funeral, a date was chosen for us. We have 3 weeks to get it together. How some folks do it in 3 days?? I’m not sure if waiting is better or worse, but it has given me time to reflect and sort and think over the journey we’ve taken.
Grief is a strange invader. It effects each person differently. Mine came nearly 5 years ago when I could no longer go to my parents for help or share the gut-wrenching walk through my husband’s cancer. I realized then I had lost them as mental support. Caregiving changed my perspective too. I became the parent, they became like children.
I’m thankful we were given the gift of walking day by day through death’s door. I watched him slip further and gradually away… so letting go was not hard. It was true relief. I wanted that freedom for him.
Our mom’s path is different. I think her sorrow began when her husband of so many years could no longer carry on a conversation. She watched him grow more and more frail, yet denial over this being the end held strong. Her grief continues now each day as she sits without him in the den. There is anger and a lot of frustration and sadness. All very natural reactions after a loss.
We grieve differently, trying to be patient with one another. Love is not always easy. It hurts. It also heals all wounds. What a challenge to love like Jesus did, to actually love to death.
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6
ForGlorySake! –Anna
