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| Photo courtesy of Free Artistic Photos |
"Grief is not a disorder, a disease or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical, and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve." - Earl Grollman
Today is the one year anniversary of my father's passing. I miss him every day. But this month, there are so many reasons why his absence will be more deeply felt: birthdays only two days apart that we always celebrated together, Christmas mornings at his house, and the New Years Day gathering that he always hosted before he got sick.
As I grieve this year, I am painfully aware of all of those who grieve the unbelievable tragedy in Connecticut - so many beautiful lives cut short. And I am thankful for every year, every day I had with my father. I treasure the memories that I have and the opportunity to be with family, share stories, and feel his presence in the impression he left on all of us.
"What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us." - Helen Keller
This year, is the first Christmas since our oldest daughter bought her own house. She has been working hard to make it a home and she will be following her grandfather's tradition, taking over the New Year's Day celebration. There will be new memories made and an abundance of blessings to be counted. My hope is that each time I feel the prick of grief anew in my own heart, it will be a reminder for me to lift up in prayer the families of those lost at Sandy Hook
"She was no longer wrestling with the grief, but could sit down with it as a lasting companion and make it a sharer in her thoughts." - George Eliot
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| Photo courtesy of Free Artistic Photos |
Wishing you all a blessed holiday and a happy new year!
Thoughts and prayers out for everyone who's grieving, and a special hug for you, Ruth. Blessed holiday and a brighter 2013.
ReplyDeleteI wish your family a happy holiday, too, and may you find comfort in new traditions!
ReplyDeleteLove the quotes Ruth. Especially the Helen Keller. We've been studying sign language this unit in homeschool and have admired her. What a gal!
ReplyDeleteYour post is lovely. I've felt so saddened all weekend. Thank you for this, Ruth. I grieve that these parents and family members are without their loved ones. *sigh*
Hugging you and wishing you a most beautiful Christmas. Remember The reason.
My prayers are with you, Ruth. This is our first Christmas since my husband's mother died, and it is definitely harder.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed Christmas!
That Helen Keller quote is so comforting. Big hugs Ruth. Wishing you and yours a happy, peaceful holiday. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Ruth. My mother died 17 years ago, and I still can't help but think of her at this time of year. ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteComfort and peace to you as you mourn. There is not start and end date for sadness.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a Blessed, holy Christmas, Ruth. ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, Ruth, though I'm so sorry for your sadness. I hope the new memories at your daughter's will help ease the pain of missing your dad. Wishing you a happy holiday and all the best for the new year! :)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of two iconic images from American folk art: the Weeping Willow and the School House.
ReplyDelete***
I always love your posts, Ruth. I'm just trying to get over the fact that you have a daughter old enough to have bought her own house…
A beautiful post, Ruth. Traditions change with the passage of time, the loss of loved ones, and the growth of those still with us. We, too, shall have our Christmas traditions change this year, due to the trauma our family suffered this past summer. Yet the cause of our change seems almost slight compared to the changes 26 families must go through.
ReplyDeleteOur prayers go out to that town and those families on a daily basis, and to you and yours, Ruth. Merry Christmas!
Such a lovely post Ruth. Holding you in the life. The first year is the hardest. But, it sound like new traditions will help. Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing such a moving post. It's almost two years since my mother died and so I understand exactly how you feel. I particularly like the part where you said about new traditions taking the place of the old. Take care and have a good holiday.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post and quotes, Ruth. I am sorry for your grief, and share in your sadness of the Sandy Hook tragedy. Wishing you a merry Christmas and a new year of happiness and healing.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful words, yours and those you quoted. Ruth, you and I were blessed with fathers we'll always miss. "Grief is the price you pay for love." As much as the grief hurts, I wouldn't have wanted to miss the love! Thanks for this beautiful post. Wishing you a wonderful 2013.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry this is a tough time for you! I hope you'll make beautiful new traditions at your daughter's house.
ReplyDelete♥ Merry Christmas! ♥
ReplyDeleteRuth - Thanks for sharing your beautiful heart; I am so sorry for your loss. Wishing you and your family a very happy new year, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, such a hard time yet you've written so much hope in this post for new memories to arise and join with the older memories.
ReplyDeleteBlessing.
xx
Hi Ruth! Beautiful post. And yes, we always seem to miss our loved ones the most during the holidays....remembering all the traditions, etc. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and I wish you a fabulous 2013!
ReplyDeleteLovely post and so true. Every day is a gift and full of magic. I need to remember that this year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteI took a long holiday break to create some different memories. I loved the quotes, Ruth. Thank you for them.
ReplyDeleteMay you have a wonderful year.
Sorry I missed this last month. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. So sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, may 2013 bring you the best!!