The bravest person I know is the parent facing life after the loss of their child.
I’m trying not to live in fear, not to future trip. I’m trying to send love and light and strength and healing energy. I’m trying not to be furious at the Universe who is taking parents on this journey.
I want to trust, I want to breathe, I want to pray and scream and cry and say something – anything – that will make sense, but I don’t know what words to share that will help ease the pain, that will share my love and let the bravest person I know feel my grief.
I want to be present in the pain, to feel it sweep through my body and out to the sky. I want to know that there is beauty and love and light wrapping their arms around those who need it most. I want to collect all the prayers and thanks and gratitude I read about, bundle them into something to hold onto. I want the bravest person I know to feel my embrace.
I want that child back, I want them to smile and eat spaghetti and smell fresh laundry. I want them to hug and cry and yell and love. I want their eyes to crinkle when they smile, their legs to shake when they’re tired, and their heart to fill when the bravest person I know enfolds them in their love.
Oh, Universe, the bands of my heart stretch to the great unknown. My fingers pause and enfold my face, they brush the tears and search for the words strangled inside.
All the while, my love, my hopes, my strength sleeps down the hall, wrapped in safety and dreams while the bravest person I know opens their eyes on an entirely new world today.
So I offer my humble words to you this morning, Universe: Peace. Love. Light. Hope. Faith.
And I trust that the bravest person I know receives them.
“It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien
Jennifer Wolfe
Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.
Follow Me:
Comments: 7
Ayse
March 16, 2016Beautiful Jennifer! The bravest person I know was my grandmother, who lost her husband when my dad was only 4 and his brother 2 years of age. Then, she sent her two sons to their resting place before she closed her eyes forever…. I cannot even fathom her grief; I don’t know if I could bear the pain. In Turkish we have saying: “May God grant orderly passing!” I wish that to every parent…
Thank you for writing Jennifer….
Jennifer Wolfe
March 16, 2016Ayse, thank you for sharing your story. What a brave person your grandmother must have been – and yes, orderly passing. What we all wish for, indeed.
Ayse
March 17, 2016Much love to you, Jennifer, for making us contemplate these important topics…
Jennifer Wolfe
March 18, 2016You are so welcome, and thank YOU for being part of our community at mamawolfe!xoxox
Mackenzie Glanville
January 27, 2016beautiful written, so heartbreaking. I wish no on head to know the grief and pain of loosing a child. #mg
Mackenzie Glanville recently posted…The Rectory Cafe, Devonport.
Jennifer Wolfe
January 28, 2016Thank you, Mackenzie. I’m right there with you – such grief is incomprehensible. #mg
Jennifer
January 26, 2016Powerful, beautiful words. #mg