This is a picture of a woman who has been through hell this
school year.
She began the year with letters to the teachers…”My child
has Type 1 Diabetes.” “My child’s father
that has stage 4 cancer.”
Two weeks after the school year began her husband, the father
of her four children, died.
This is a picture of a woman who just dropped off the kids
for their last day of school and as hard as she tries not to think about
this past year, it is pushing its way to the front of her mind. Wrangling it’s way past all the suppressed
feelings of anger, exhaustion and sadness.
People are congratulating her, “Congratulations, M is
graduating from High School tomorrow!”
And she furrows her brows and says, “I haven’t thought about
it.”
Because she tries SO SO hard not to. Because she knows when she really takes it
in, when she really lets it sink into
her soul what that all means…him leaving…his victories…his adulthood…she scarce
can take it in.
She is going to lose it.
That serene face up there? She
will lose it.
But that woman is super good at hiding all the fear. All the emotions are kept in a box in her
heart until inevitably, they will break through, unable to be contained.
Children growing.
Milestones being reached. SO many
things to be proud of…
And her husband is not here to celebrate with her. It brings so many conflicted emotions…all she
can do is smile pleasantly.
And hope that she will make it through one more day, without
him.
She has chosen to be happy…and she is really trying to honor
that decision.
Sure, the tears find their way to the surface all the time,
(still, ALL the time,) but she knows how she faces the future is a choice. Her choice.
And right now she chooses not to think about it. She chooses to live only for today. A day that in three hours will mark the end
of this completely mind boggling year.
They have survived.
Somehow the last nine months happened, and she kept walking. She kept moving. The family kept progressing. Which progression, she knows, has been a gift.
So that woman who has been through hell will smile today,
and count the many blessings in her life.
Four of which are attending their last day of 3rd, 5th,
9th and 12th grade.
She’s got this.
Until the cap and gown are put on. Then she’ll let herself lose it for a
bit…crying and smiling her way through the pain, happiness, sorrow and confusion.
She knows Ryan wants her to smile.
And more than anything, she still wants to make him happy.
Thank you Meri for sharing.
ReplyDeletePraying for you!
So proud to "know" you - so proud of how your fearlessly have shared this year with all of us. Savor it, all of it and know you're not alone!
ReplyDeleteYour beauty, inner and outer, is simply a symptom of your undying love - for family, for life, for Ryan. The strength of your love shines brilliantly, gives strength to others struggling with far less, and awes many. Prayers to help strengthen that love and bring you some small sense of peace as you walk through all before you. Just know, the miracle of you just being is just that - miraculous, beautiful, and a gift to all you choose to share that with.
ReplyDeleteMeri, if there is one thing I keep taking away from reading your blog, it's that CHOICE we have. Those words you wrote about what Ryan said, "God doesn't want us to be miserable", they resonate with me all the time. Because I so want to give in to the misery time and time again. But what choice do we have really, but to smile. Thanks for sharing Meri.
ReplyDelete(((((Hugs)))) You are so much stronger than you know :)
ReplyDeleteAww, may The Lord bless you immensely and hug you always.
ReplyDeleteWow, Meri. That is so beautifully written. All of your posts are. The contrast of your pain and your joy is quite a picture. Your determination to find the joy is admirable. I can only imagine..you say you still cry all the time, and I think, "of course you do". But you've made it through this year. There's so much in that smile. I love reading your posts....thank you! I'd buy your book:).
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs.
ReplyDelete