If we could see time as a circle, we might be better able to see how birth and death belong within the one embrace. John O'DonohueOur plane landed this past Monday night and my husband and I drove directly to the nursing home that my mother has called home for the past 13 months. The messages had been giving rise to anxieties... should we try to return early? Her health was failing rapidly. We had known this for awhile ... but when the day comes to say good by to your mother, it is still a sad day.
My mother of ninety three displayed a strength and joy of life, a contentment and sense of adventure.
The following poem was written after the painful death of children, but no matter the age death is difficult.
What is Grief?
It is not a sentiment,
of heart wrenching beautiful words.
It is incredible pain,
A darkness I cannot breathe in,
A tangible taste I cannot brush away.
A pain I think I cannot survive
It is not pretty, but it can bring about beauty.
It is a journey, I did not choose to embark on.
Grief is questions and searching
It redefines my soul.
Grief is so lonely it doubts the existence of love.
Bizarrely, the sun still shines in the midst of grief
And flowers still bloom.
Because of that
I choose to live!
There have been many opportunities to share the hope I have been given despite life altering grief. Choose hope, choose life.
