Although I shared a few wonderful picture memories of our family trip to Florida what I haven't shared yet is the wonderful gift I received from my Mom.
We had been together in Florida long enough to have hugged everyone, brought in our luggage and checked out our living quarters for the next 8 days when I spotted a LARGE creative memories photo album. Mom is often busy scrap booking and so naturally I assumed it was her handiwork. So I asked what was in the album. As Leanne (my sister) responded Mom sprinted to her bedroom only to come back with a very large package. It was another memory album for me!! Mom had gone to a lot of work to create 3 albums, one for each child, from our parents' childhood to their wedding to our births - school years and our own weddings, their grandchildren all up until my Dad passed away in 2000. Needless to say I have been emotionally moved by her act of love. My Mom is not one to speak words of sentiment often but her creative genius, her ability to decorate and make any room beautiful is incredibly inspiring. She puts her outfits together with the same care. We have enjoyed looking through the albums with both laughter and tears. What was so comforting to me was that Mom thought to do this and carried it out. I love seeing what she put in each of the books but just the thought of her taking the time to put this all together to create a memory and to show her continuing love was incredible on its own.
Mom's gift has reminded me about the process of grieving and living beyond the grief; seeing the hope the lay ahead. Grieving takes time, it takes energy and it seems to continue with me through my journey teaching lessons and reminding me of things I want to pass on to my children. Although the immediate pain of the loss is gone, new situations arise. We have parts of our lives that have no memory of our loved one even though they live on through a smile, a wink, a hug, a good joke.
I had an inconvenient grieving experience on Space Mountain at Disney of all places. When I was a young girl - much the age of Megan - I went on the Space Mountain ride with my Dad. I was a bit scared and he assured me that it would be great and he held me and laughed the entire ride. I remember loving the ride and being comforted by his laughter. So here I am this time doing the same to my daughter Megan, only she is not consoled and I am fighting back the tears remembering how much fun my Dad was but at the same time I am thinking about the automatic pictures that are taken on the ride to purchase afterwards and I am telling Megan just to close her eyes so that she wouldn't throw up!!!
As Good Friday is upon us we remember the love that God has for us. The hope that He has given us. Hope that allows us to continue on through the hard times and to give out of what we have learned in the hard times. That His love is able to fill us with reason for living more than any personal longing fulfilled ever would.
I pray that we will take time to reflect on God's gift of love and that we will know Christ more and the power of His resurrection. (Phil 3:10)
Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear [sisters], stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
Romans 15: 54b - 58
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