They are marked with sweet joy of celebrating advent that leads to Christmas celebrations. Birthdays for two of my girls. Decorations I love. Family Traditions. Family...
This year they are also marked with incredible Heartache. Loss. Memories.
Around this time last year we were celebrating my youngest's first year of life while facing the fact that my dad was finishing his last.
It all takes my breath away like it just happened. The days... good and bad... play in my mind. The pictures are blurred by tears that I cannot stop.
I miss my papa. Every. Day. Some days are extremely difficult. Others are not so bad. Most probably think that I am doing okay. For the most part I am don't get me wrong. On a lot of days I just want to sit and cry. I have three little ones that distract me and need me to keep going. My two older ones will randomly talk about him when I least expect it. On some occasions it makes me laugh or smile and on others I fight back tears or they spill out.
Some people ask about him or how I am doing. Most do not. It's awkward for some. It's okay. It's true...life is but a vapor and the grass remembers us no more.
It has been strange to not ponder over what gift to buy him this year as he seemed to have all that he wanted. Or he would tell me that what was on his list was far too expensive which generally meant that it was some firearm he wanted. HA!
My gift to him last year was a CD of hymns (he was listening to it when he passed.) In all the years I had with him I don't remember him being quite as grateful as he was for this one. I can still see him mouthing the words "thank you." to me. Maybe I'll pull it out sometime... maybe
Indeed, these days are marked. Marked by hope that came as a little baby under the cover of night. Hope that grew to be a man of stature and character that would pay the ultimate sacrifice of dying on a cross for my sins. Hope that rose from the dead. Hope that promises the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. That Hope is Jesus. A Hope that Papa has...a Hope that I have. In this I find great comfort...yes... and joy. Even in my tears.
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