Love does not die

Now that I am gone,
remember me with smiles and laughter.
And if you need to cry,
cry with your brother or sister
who walks in grief beside you.

And when you need me,
put your arms around anyone
and give to them what you need to give to me.

There are so many who need so much.
I want to leave you something --
something much better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I've known
or helped in some special way. 
Let me live in your heart as well as in your mind.

You can love me most by letting your love reach out to our loved ones, 
by embracing them and living in their love.

Love does not die, people do.
So, when all that's left of me is love,

give me away as best you can.

~ Author unknown

It will nearly be a month since Mom has passed away. It still hurts me deeply to not be able to call and talk with her. My heart breaks when I see her picture and know that I would give nearly anything to give her one more hug and kiss. Tears stream down my cheeks when I think that I could not be with her in her final moments; knowing that again, my heart would break in even deeper ways if I had been. I feel like I have been gutted alive when I think that there is "no grave" to visit since her body was cremated, there are only ashes in an urn to culminate this beautiful life; it doesn't seem fair or right at all.

I can hear her voice and laughter. I see her smile; how contagious. I hear the hope and JOY in her voice that NO ONE could steal from her. I am so very thankful that she was MY Mom. I only hope to "make her proud of me" in the ways that I am raising my son; her grandson whom she loved so dearly. 

My eyes may never stop crying; my heart, hopefully, will NEVER stop feeling her love for me and my love for her. I miss her so very badly.

If you are grieving the loss of a parent; please accept a cyber hug from me today. 

“Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” 

Kahlil Gibran

My Mom and I in 1990 (?), she was already 66 in this picture.

Say Kaddish for me...

I am grieving. 

Grieving the loss of my mother who just passed away at the ripe age of 87 from cancer of all things; she could have and probably had lived many more years if the cancer was caught ten years ago. She was taking care of my father; who underwent colon cancer surgery in 2007; it might have not been terminal if caught at that time. This is a great loss to me.




I remember watching the first movie that I had seen that had a reference to the Mourner's Kaddish;  a Jewish prayer said at the time of mourning the passing of a loved one, which praises Hashem (God) as Job said "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; Blessed be the Name of the LORD. (Job 1:20-22). My mom and I were both greatly impacted by the movie, The Odessa File (Movie trailer on Youtube) with John Voight  and Maxmilian Schell. Many times after seeing it, her heart was touched as she spoke of the last scene; where in a diary of a Jewish man, he requests that if any one would read this that they would "say Kaddish for me". It seemed odd to me that a woman; who probably had never even met a Jewish person in her life up to that time, half German and half Irish in origin would be attracted to the Jewish prayer. It is even "more odd" in ways that I later and for over 18 years spent time with Jews and Gentiles believers in Jesus in the Messianic Synagogue.  I have often felt that giving praise to God at this time was a healing part of the mourning process; it acknowledges His gift to us through this loved one's life. My mother was truly a nothing less than a precious gift from God and I thank Him and her for providing me with her love.


Would you indulge me in this time of mourning and in honor of my mother; would you "say Kaddish" for her? Thank you and Shalom to you and yours.
 

The Mourner’s Kaddish

Exalted and sanctified is God's great name (Amen) 
in the world which He has created according to His will, 

and may He establish His kingdom in your lifetime 
and during your days, and within the life of the entire 

House of Israel, speedily and soon; 
and say, Amen.

(Amen. May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.)

May His great Name be blessed forever and for all eternity. 

Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, 
elevated and lauded be the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He, (blessed be He) 

beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are spoken in the world; 

and say, Amen. (Amen.)

May there be great peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; 

and say, Amen. (Amen.)