December, a month of great emotion...

December, a month of great emotion…

It is so hard sometimes to allow my happy to shine through when I know there is so much sad for friends.  My happy seems to get swallowed up by the knowledge of their sadness.

I am overcome with emotion for my friend Beverly.  We have all lost people in our lives, some have lost many, some have lost only one or two.  Some have had losses of great depth, others have had losses that while meaningful are not time-standing-still kinds of losses.  We might have lost the same person in our lives, say our fathers, but the circumstances of the death, where we are in our lives, and our relationship with the person all figure into how the loss affects us.  My father became ill, went through treatment, and suffered less than six months.  I hated seeing him suffer, and I had time to tell him I loved him many times before he died.  In fact, I was able to witness his passing–it was extraordinary.  And while I hate the disease that took him, and I hate that he had to suffer for one minute, I am glad that I had time with him and was ready to see him get out of that pain.  When my husband’s father died, we received a phone call that he had suffered a horrible heart attack.  He didn’t get a chance to recuperate and make changes in his life and diet.  There were no goodbyes.  There were no hugs.  There was no relief at seeing him get to leave his misery.  He just was gone in an instant.  Two fathers, two deaths, two very different responses to the loss.

My friend Beverly lost her son a few years ago in an instant.  She has thought herself to be so weak, and she has continued to grieve his loss often  in her posts.  Her heart has held to the grief for her son.  A couple of days ago, she lost her husband in an instant.  She had no say over it, she wasn’t able to say her goodbyes.  He is gone from her daily life.  She says she doesn’t know how to live without him.   I beg to differ.  She is an incredibly strong woman.  She has found ways to live  and celebrate her son.  She will pull from the depths of her soul to find strength to live and celebrate her husband.  She will teach so many of us how to find joy when our hearts are hurting.  She might not be able to do that today or tomorrow or this year…but she will do it, and we will all celebrate with her as she sees the strength that she has been given.  Her son and husband are always right there in every smile she shares, every stitch she sews, every goody she bakes.  Her two living children have lost a brother and a father.  They are surely just as sad as she, and they will show us all how to pull together with every opportunity to relish the moments with those we love.  I will pray for their comfort every day.  I don’t pray because I think there is a magical solution coming their way, but I pray because I know that my thoughts are powerful, and anything I can offer them is worth my energy.  Maybe you could do the same.

This is the holiday season, and it is one of the hardest times of the year for anyone who has ever lost anyone else.  Don’t think that your hurt is greater than mine.  Don’t think that your hurt isn’t worthy of being mentioned because it wasn’t a horrific loss.  We all have hurting hearts for those we have loved and lost, for those we have stopped loving but who are not lost, and for those who seem not to love us, but whose love we so desire.

I hope that you take a minute every day, but especially every day of this month, to look around you.  Be willing to share your hurt and to allow someone else to share theirs.  Offer opportunities for friends, family, and sometimes strangers sharing space with you to tell you about what is bringing them pain this holiday season.  I’ll go first.

I feel sadness for my mother who has no husband with whom to share the joys of the day.  I feel sadness that my friend has lost her sister and her mother.  I feel sadness that another friend has lost her son, and her daughter has lost her brother.  I feel sadness that another friend has lost her son and husband, and her children have lost their brother and father.  I feel sadness that I never knew my mother-in-law, that my husband has no parents, and that I have no father to tell me I’ll always be his little girl.  I feel sadness that church is not what it once was in my life.  I feel sadness when I let people down.   I feel sadness that my friends have lost their mother and friend and are struggling to live each day.  I feel sadness that my nephew is sad and lonely.   I feel sadness that I cannot fix your pain (crazy, but true).

But in life there must be balance.  There must always be balance…

I feel  joy because I can hop in the car and see and hug my mother.  I feel joy because my husband’s aunt treats us as if we were her own.  I feel joy because my children know love and show love.   I feel joy because my husband still loves me and wants to spend time with me.  I feel joy because I have friends who take time for me.  I feel joy because my friend who lost her sister and mother has chosen to allow me into her life.  I feel joy because I see families who are excited by the pictures I take of their children.  I feel joy because my dog is always happy to see me (not joy when he pees about it). I feel joy because I have had the opportunity to know people to whom I am related who never knew I was here. I feel joy that I can remember my daddy.  I feel joy that my family members, extended and immediate, matter to each other.

The lists could go on and on.

I feel.  Some people say I feel too much (both directions).  It is not easy to feel so greatly, and it can be exhausting.  But I feel and I love and I am so glad to have the opportunity to impact others through my words and actions.

Make your lists.

Make time for others.

Make life today count.

steen2013    steen2013A

 

8 Responses to “December, a month of great emotion…”

  1. Incredible and inspiring words, Susan. You are an AMAZING woman! I’ve been missing you and Bernie 🙂 Blessings to you and your sweet family for the holiday season and the upcoming year!
    ~ tlc

    • suezquesteen says:

      Thanks, Teri. What a joy it has been to have you come into our lives. The hardest times can bring the best gifts. I hope I’ll see you soon!

  2. Jennifer says:

    Darn it, woman! You had to go and make me cry, didn’t you? Lol It’s all good, though..reminds me I’m human, and for that, I thank you 🙂

  3. Gayle Jordan says:

    My precious sister — what a lovely blog. It does seem like the holidays magnifies everything – both joy and sorrow. You are one of the friends for whom I am most grateful, at the holidays and the rest of the year.

    Suzy – I’m so glad you have this love for your father. Your words make me know what a wonderful dad he must have been. Not all of us got to experience that.

    I can’t wait to see you – maybe coffee this week? I promise I won’t pee when I see you. I have finals the 11th and 13th, and I’m preparing for them, but I could sneak out for a minute or two. Or you could come over! If it’s pretty, we can have cocktails!!

    Love you madly….xx

    • suezquesteen says:

      Oh, Gayle, you are such a love! You would have loved my daddy. He was very quiet, and when he spoke people listened. He was so kind. Thank you for taking me as the “heavy feelings” person who I am.
      We’ll find a day this week…sunshine would be great!

  4. Rita Parker says:

    Oh my precious little girl!!! For when I think of you, I see that little girl with that huge smile that would stop by my classroom so many years ago! Having just reconnected with you, I am beyond blessed by it. God is so amazing to connect people for a time, lose that connection, but then have it appear again at a time when we need it most! Our lives are so intertwined in Him and His glorious plan for our lives. Never doubt that. You have so beautifully described love and loss that is so hard to understand at times. But in it all: GOD WORKS HIS WILL FOR HIS GLORY AND OUR GOOD!! We can count on that. When people let us down, as your church undoubtedly has, HE will NEVER let us down!! Look for those who have His Spirit shining through them. I see His Spirit so beautifully in you. People will always let us down at some point in our lives, even as we let others down. . . even when we don’t mean to. But we must extend the same grace to them as He extends to us. That’s what sets us apart. You keep on being the beautiful, loving, caring, little girl that never grows up and away from those character traits. God has a great reward for you. I am so thankful he brought you back into my life!!

    Mrs. Dale (Rita Parker now) LOL!

    • suezquesteen says:

      Thank you, Rita. Whenever I feel the sadness in my bones, there are sweet surprises that remind me of the grace that is shown to me–that I must show to others. I know we are each made differently, and there are times I wish I weren’t such a “feeler,” but here I am, and I am really blessed to have such precious people in my life. So glad to know you again!

  5. Liz says:

    Beautiful tributes.

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Thoughts to Encourage

Joy is the will which labors, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.~ William Butler Yeats

Whether you think you can or think you can’t you’re right. - Henry Ford

The best way out is always through. ~ Robert Frost

Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. ~ Theodore N. Vail

Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall. ~ Oliver Goldsmith

You must be the change you want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi

Nothing helps like a good nap…

Birds are Beautiful

A Dog is Faithful…