Grief can destroy you -- or focus you. You can decide a relationship was all for nothing if it had to end on death, and you alone. Or you can realize that every moment of it had more meaning than you dared to recognize at the time, so much meaning it scared you, so you just lived, just took for granted the love and laughter of each day, and didn't allow yourself to consider the sacredness of it. But when it's over and you're alone, you begin to see it wasn't just a movie and dinner together, not just watching sunsets together, not just scrubbing a floor or washing dishes together or worrying over a high electric bill. It was everything, it was the why of life, every event and precious moment of it. The answer to the mystery of existence is the love you shared sometimes so imperfectly, and when the loss wakes you to the deeper beauty of it, to the sanctity of it, you can't get off your knees for a long time, you're driven to your knees not by the weight of the loss but by gratitude for what preceeded the loss. And the ache is always there, but one day not the emptiness, because to nurture the emptiness, to take solace in it, is to disrespect the gift of life.
- Dean Koontz's book Odd Hours
Today, I am grateful for a day with no plans to catch up on stuff like scholarships for next year (if anyone has any great ideas-please share!), friends, family, God and a warm place to live.
Love,
Me
2 comments:
Rachel, I loved this quote and it's so true! Hope everything is going well with you and Gabe. We'll see you at Manny's baptism.
Love, Grandma Huckaba
Rachel - that is a beautiful quote -- thanks for sharing it. I hope eerything is well with you and Gabe. See you at Manny's baptism.
Love, Grandma Huckaba
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