I really loved my father-in-law. When I met my husband, I knew right away he was a keeper. He is a wonderful man. His dad taught him well.
His dad was awesome. He was a Shriner, a clown. A really good man. And I loved him dearly. My children loved him dearly. So when his illness wore on and on, witnessing him deteriorate and die a slow and painful death was very difficult.
When he was finally released from his suffering, it was bittersweet. A bright spot was gone. The suffering was gone.
At the funeral, a wondrous thing happened. I was the photographer, capturing the moments; grief, well wishes, love, compassion. And a TON of beauty. It was EVERYWHERE. It was almost intoxicating. The smiles of the family. The children that he loved so much, rejoicing in the day because death to them is different than to us. The cemetery was so secluded, we were the only people on the planet at that time, like time had almost stopped.
At the end, I was full of grief, I didn’t want to say the final goodbye. I didn’t want to walk away; to never see him, hear his laugh, see him hug my children. I was hanging back, feeling as if I was about to slowing melt into a puddle of sadness.
Then in the next instant all I could hear was the breeze through the trees. It was so intense, it was as if I could hear the sunrays travel between the trees to my face. I looked to my left as if someone had called my name and I saw these three deer that had wondered up to our ceremony.
In an instant all my pain was gone. My heart was filled with joy. I knew that my father-in-law as comforting me. Telling me “It’s not goodbye. I am right here.” So many years ago, and I can still hear the breath of God through the trees.
Today, as I was running, I was wrestling with something. My heart and mind going at it. I’ve been wrestling with this thing for quite a while now.
At just the moment when I was going to AGAIN but this thing on the back burner, I run into my three friends.
I smiled.
“OK. I HEAR YOU!!!!!”
Action to follow.
