Death, life, and hope have been heavy on mind and heart
lately. On many occasions recently I've had the pleasure of sitting around
multiple tables with so many of the dearest people in my world. During these
times at the table there have been tears of grief, tears of laughter, games
played (I lost more than seems fair), memories shared, and new memories made.
Entirely too many people that I know are currently
experiencing the grief that comes from the death of a loved one. Whether young
or old, sick or healthy, rich or poor, acquaintance or kin, I believe that with
death comes a special kind of hope. Hope that dear ones will be there to show
you love, hope that you will again be in a place together to reunite with the
one that left, hope that you will live this short life with a full heart, and
hope that when death comes for you that you will accept it with peace and
elegance.
"When illness enters a home, not only does it take hold
of a body, it also weaves a dark web between hearts, a web where hope is
trapped." This quote from Muriel Barbery's book The Elegance of the
Hedgehog keeps coming back to me. It gives life and movement to the idea of
hope and paints a beautiful picture of what it looks like to be trapped in the
sticky webs of the heart.
For those greiving, know you are loved and trust in the
power of hope.
