It made me remember a similar one.
And I was taken immediately back to that day. I remember getting to the funeral home early, and not leaving all day. I couldn't bear to leave her. I knew that her earthly body would soon be leaving us, and I couldn't force myself to leave her.
Even typing this now, I am so overcome with emotion, it's painful and comforting. I'm so glad that people still know her story, that people still talk about her. I know after Austin died, one of the conversations I had with Shannon, his mom, was her panic in people forgetting him, and not knowing how fantastic he was, and what a light he shined on all our lives.
Grief is a weird, consuming beast. You will think that you have finally gotten through the worst of it, when something small happens and it rears it's violent, ugly head. I have the honor of talking to the families of people that have lost loved ones and I hear all kinds of stories, "I saw his stein in the freezer, and it set me off". "I felt relieved, because the man I loved had died years ago when Alzheimers took him from me" "I hear his voice when I sleep" "I sat in her closet and took in her scent". Every memory from every family is a treasure to me. In helping others heal through their grief, it walks me through me own journey.
It's easy for me to visit with the widows that had 60 years to love their mate. We reminisce, we share, we laugh, we have a lifetime of good things to sift through.
But when I have to sit with a family that lost a 3 year old, and her daddy, in a fire... I have trouble expressing my pain for them. I stumble, and falter over the words to give comfort. The family doesn't believe in God, so I can't walk them through with hope. It overwhelms me.
I'm thankful for my faith. I'm thankful for my hope in eternity. Without that, I can't imagine the loss. As I walk closer and closer to my Lord and Savior, and let Him wrap me in comfort that only He has the power to give me, I am content.
The grave didn't have the victory, the Lord Jesus Christ did, and through Him, we are all made new.
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