Grief

Like all of you, this time of year can be so hard.  We have all lost someone dear to us. I have lost my bestest friend in the whole world to liver failure, my daughter in law to drugs, my brother in law to cancer, and my little wee dog to pneumonia and diabetes, and all in the last 6 months. Some years ago, I lost my Mom, my Dad and my eldest son. I have come to live with a certain amount of sadness that has overtaken my life and it does not go away with time.  I have had to realize that dying is a part of living and those that have passed are in a better place than I am, but it does not keep me from missing them. I do however have to go on living and do try to concentrate on those that I love that are still here with me. But I cherish the memories of christmas past, when we all got together and laughed and loved and shared the holidays with each other.  I miss that time, yet I cherish the ones I still have also with the rest of my loved ones.  I guess the only description that comes to mind is "Bittersweet".  In order to experience the rainbows of life, we mush shed the tears it takes to make them.  I heard that somewhere, and thought How very True! Let us find the good in today but remember the good in yesterday as well. Merry Christmas All!

[Judy246]

I'm right there with you.  Last July, my brother married, a week later my mother died in my arms ( I will never be the same person), her brother in law died the following week, my ex fiance father, whom I loved dearly died, my niece's fiance mother died of cancer, 2 co workers wives died (more funerals), my mothers best friend who attended her funeral died of pancreatic cancer, I lost my job in May, the man I thought I would married decided he couldn't deal with my grief and haven't seen or heard from him again and my beloved doggie son Toby died of a heart attach,,Oh...my brothers wife lost a baby two week before Christmas.

Death was hanging out in my house, among my friends and family, yet God has given me the strenght to be a survivor and trust in him that one day in his time, I will see my loved ones again. I told my mother as she was dying that it was ok to go and come get me when it's my time.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, because I'm right there with you.

Happy New Year also....Judy

[jml1986]

I think it is easy for most people to relate. As for me, coming from two very large families, death occurs often. Although the holidays bring reflection and even some twinges of heartache, I can not imagine not having those people in my life even for the short time that I had them. While lossing my dad has by far been the hardest of all my losses, it is my memories of him that brings me the most peace. My hope for all this holiday season is that we remember to take comfort in the good memories of the loved ones that are no longer with us.