To The Dead......To The Loved Ones Left Behind

Two years ago today I received terrible news. A friend of mine had passed away. Not by natural means mind you, but by his own hand. I saw how torn it made his family, and I regretted the fact that I had to see them hurt in such a way. His father, and ever strong, devoted, and amazingly patriotic retired Air Force Technical Sergeant broke as if he were glass being shattered by a mallet. His younger brother, a fresh Airman still in Basic Training seemed as if everything he knew had crashed in around him. It very well may have. Of the three younger brothers, two of them showed no emotion at the Memorial service, and one let show how much he hurt. I believe that though all of these men who were left behind are related, they definately took grief in their own ways.

Also, yesterday I learned that my paternal grandmother had passed away on March 30. I started out by being angry because my dad never called or told me about it. I had to find out through a cousin who I haven't seen since I was four. Granted I am not Catholic, but i would have liked to have been able to share the family's grief as they felt it. I learned that her rosary was this past Sunday and the funeral service itself was on Monday. I officially feel like an ass, and hope that God will forgive me for not being with my family in their time of need.

To The Dead...No matter who you are or how you died, know that we love you, and that someone in the mortal scheme of things remembers you. The way you looked, smiled, laughed, your likes and dislikes, your talents, your strengths and weaknesses. You will be remembered through several generations. Those of us left behind have stories and memories to share. So please go on to the here after and rest in peace.

To Those That Are Left Behind...Death is never easy. Doesn't matter how old you are, how rich you are, how you lived your life. Death is truly the only disease without prejudice. It has been happening for thousands of years. When Jesus walked the earth and taught the masses, he felt pain, and thirst, hunger and sickness, and finally death. Death is a natural part of being mortal, and the only way we can become immortal. It is a rite of passage. I am not saying don't hurt, ache, or cry for those who have gone before us. But take into consideration the fact that maybe now they are not in the pain that they were in on this planet. They now have the chance they need to rest, and become whole. They can be the person you knew them as being before they passed away. Though we may not be able to see our loved ones who have passed away from mortality, and have woken up on the other side, they are ALWAYS with us, and are always watching us. So when you're feeling blue about someone being gone from this mortal existence, just remember that they know you miss them and love them, but now they are truly in peace. Smile, remember, laugh, and love. For these to a mortal soul are healing.