A Grieving Parent

For any parent who's lost a child knows a pain that in itself is indescribable. As strange as it may seem the only thing that comes close to it is our love for our children. Do you remember the first time you held your child... the love you felt was like no other. For the first time in your life you knew what it was like to have that unconditional love... and it was that love that consumed every cell in your body. Eventually it is that amazing love that settles in and finds a comfortable place to rest but it doesn't take much to have it all come rushing to the surface. Their fist step, peeking in while they sleep, their faces Christmas morning...watching them blow out their birthday candles. That same feeling you had the fist day you and your child met... That amazing love....comes rushing to the surface. It doesn't even miss a beat... it's exactly as you remembered it the first time you felt it. Well... grief is much like that. From the moment you know your child has passed it's grief that consumes every cell in your body. Eventually as time goes on... that to will find a comfortable place to rest. But like love... it's not far away. All it takes is a song, a picture, watching the lights on the Christmas tree, and it all comes rushing back...Exactly the same as it was the fist time you felt it. It is now part of who you are and like your love... it will always be just a heartbeat away.

There was an elderly lady on a talk show many years ago who had 14 children. Her children had her on to honor her and show her how much they loved her. She was asked if there was any one child that she loved more than the others. I will never forget her reply..She lifted her head and with tears in her eyes she said:

"Oh Yes......

The one that is sick till he is well...

The one that is young until he has grown....

and the one that is gone .... until we can be together again."