06/21/2020
Death. Mourning. Grief. Words that no one wants to endure, but in life, at some point we all will. As we understand that with life comes death, the actual experience of it can be more than one can bear. The very idea of knowing that someone you love is no longer present in this life with you can be overwhelmingly sad.
In 2016 my Father passed away. He was a resilient man. One of the healthiest, sickest people I knew. Pick an issue- I’m sure he had it. Renal failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, seizures… He always came back, because he was healthy. His doctors wanted to keep trying, they were still fighting for my dad’s life. They saw life in him I appreciated that. That moment with the doctor was reassuring. I was sad. I cried a lot. [ Crying is healthy. Don’t hold those feelings in, it’ll only make things harder in the long run].
Grief is sneaky. That first week or so when you expect to cry is one thing. It’s another thing when you are watching TV and the commercial is of parents reuniting with their children after they have been away in active duty. Yes, that IS me. Those reunion moments get me every time because I know that my father is not coming back. It’s been 4 years. Holidays are hard without him. I still sometimes want to call and tell him something and remember oh yeah…
Just when I thought I was gonna be okay with Father’s Day this year, my grandfather {My mom’s dad) passes away on June 6. He was 34 days shy of his 86th birthday. My grandfather was so wise, and I am so glad that he talked to me and encouraged me. He prayed for me. He was always there for my special moments in life and I am forever grateful for his love and leadership. My grandfather lived in Louisville, but you would have thought he and grandmother lived around the corner. That's how often I saw him/them.
I miss my father and grandfather very much. I am sad that they are not physically present. I also know that they are no longer suffering in these broken earthly vessels. And while, I have full comprehension of how this works, it does not make any less sorrowful. Death is hard on the heart. Today I want to encourage you to cry – feel all your feelings, release them. I want to encourage you to remember – tell stories, look at pictures, sing songs. I want to encourage you to seek additional help and support if the grief is too much to bear. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GREIVE IN SILENCE. Today I chose to write a post. I have cried while typing this. I am sad. Father’s Day is hard – there’s another post about other reasons Father’s Day is hard, but that’s ANOTHER POST 😊
Celebrate the men that are in your life today. Celebrate their love, care, and protection of you. Celebrate their wisdom and guidance given to you. Celebrate their jokes, even the bad ones. Celebrate their laugh and smile. It’s been a rough year (and years) for men – celebrate their lives and the fact that they are still here.
Love you guys.
Til next time here's to being Healthy, Happy, Whole.
