Life. How Short It Is and the Three Words We Do Not Use With the Ease That We Should.

(photo credit Frieda Hudson)
It's been a rough week. I'll make no bones about it. Rough. Terrible. Unimaginable in many ways, but I've hung in there.
I miss my friend and have been grieving the" imposed separation" between myself and my best friend...and it has been akin to grieving a death. I gave it all to God and pray that in due course all that will be dealt with in the appropriate measures.
I received a phone call from my mother today to say that my great uncle that I loved dearly was dead. I was numb at first. I wanted to know information and there was none at that time.
I called a friend for a bit of support, I read steadily from Bible.com and I prayed.
Life is short. It can be taken in a flash. I was jolted into that reality today...again.
I miss my friend. I am so saddened by the loss of an uncle who was one of THE kindest, most gentle spirits I have ever known.
He always had TIME for me. He NEVER failed to tell me he loved me.
When I was a little girl, "somehow" he always seemed to draw my name in the family gift giving...and each year, as much as hoping Santa would come, I hoped that my great uncle would be "the one" to draw my name. As a kid, it was like a miracle to me...somehow HE always did "get my name" and he always gave me $20.00, a big hug and he told me HE LOVED ME...and I knew he did. That is a big part of the most fond childhood Christmas memories I have.
My "hometown" doesn't feel so much like my hometown anymore....there are few familiar faces and life is such that I don't get "home" often. But in my mind's eye, I can see my great uncle, always glad to see me, always right there with a ready smile, and always telling me how much he loved me. And he did. And he does even now.
I called Marah to "break the news." She cried, as I expected and said the same things. This wonderful man was my daughter's GREAT-GREAT UNCLE...and he loved her too...very much. Marah was the 5th generation born into our family, so she had a lot of love around her in terms of grands, greats, great-greats, etc. She shared a few memories of being a little girl and no matter what "story" she was creating, what dance she was doing or whatever she had to say to our uncle, he was as interested as if he were talking to a world dignitary. His complete attention went to her and she had his full focus. He didn't like controversy, he wanted life kept on an even keel and again, his KINDNESS was incredible. He led a very simple life and he made sure that he told everyone he loved them. Believe me when I say there was NOTHING disingenuous about this man. When he used the word "LOVE," he MEANT IT. You don't get that kind of sincerity in this day and time. He LOVED his family...period.
I am grieving two losses this week. One expected, one completely out of the blue.
All I can say is that life is short. We never know from one minute to the next, as I posted back in July with regard to Frieda Hudson, how "life" can change in a flash and will never be the same again. Oddly, my cousin became a grandmother yesterday. She lost her father and gained a grand daughter.
I don't understand "life" or "death." It's not my place to try. I just know God will help me through the loss of my dear friend Frieda, who is very much alive and I cannot see her (for now)...and I know God will help me through the loss of one terrific great uncle. Though I will never hear his kind, loving voice telling me "I LOVE YOU ANNE," I will always carry that in my heart. What made him the most "manly" to me was his gentle way, his generous spirit and the ease in which he never failed to say, "I LOVE YOU."
I love you too Vestal. Please tell those I love and miss greatly that I love them and that Annie is doing okay. God has brought a gentle man to be with Him. I tried to envision his joy at being with my great-grandparents and my other loved ones again...and I'm almost envious. What I wouldn't give for one more minute with each of them, if only to say three words..."I love you."
Life is short. Please say your prayers and "I love you" often. Death is swift and even when it is expected, we still want just one more minute. This death was totally unexpected. Thank you for loving me and most of all for telling me so. Your precious soul can rest in peace now. I love you Uncle Vestal and I always will, Annie.

|