Autumn Days

Autumn has always been my favorite season. Even managing my way through grief I can feel a renewed sense of hope by the cold crisp mornings and the smell of leaves as day settles into dusky evening. There was a crescent moon the other night shining brightly through the forest around my home. It's nature's way of saying things will be all right and life goes on in the usual, ordinary ways that are really quite remarkable if you only take notice. I received a lovely poem in the e-mail the other day that I place here for all daughters who grieve the loss of a mom.

For My Daughter by David Ignatow

When I die choose a star

and name it after me

that you may know

I have not abandoned

or forgotten you.

You were such a star to me,

following you through birth

and childhood, my hand

in your hand.

When I die

choose a star and name it

after me so that I may shine

down on you, until you join

me in darkness and silence

together.

Take Comfort

On the day my mom died I received the following e-mail message from gratefulness.org :

Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it.
( Jacques Prévert).

This quote brought me great comfort at a time of great sadness. As it turns out, my mom's funeral was held on my birthday and it was all just overwhelming. Those of you who have suffered loss know that words can never describe the roller coaster of emotions that can occur. This morning I checked my e-mails after having been away for a few days and the outpouring of condolences was just so amazing. I know there are a lot of pros and cons about e-mail protocol and etiquette but whether a note comes by old -fashioned snail mail or e-mail the love and concern comes shining through. So I leave this post today with the following message sent on my birthday, again, from gratefulness.org. I am placing the quote here just as I received it. God bless the people and staff at this web site for bringing light to those of us who so desperately need it.

www.gratefulness.org
WORD FOR THE DAY
Monday, Sep. 3

Today my prayer consisted in simply going to my heart and re-membering all the folks I've stored there. It is not cold storage. It is a quite warm and tender place.

Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB
A Tree Full of Angels