Proverbs 10:7 “The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.”
When we talk about getting through the holidays we often think of the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. There are other times during the year that can also bring up memories that can stir up mixed feelings inside of us. Valentine’s Day is February 14th. Every Valentine’s Day, I would be up and out of the house before anyone else was awake. My working hours required me to start my day when most people were tucked snugly under the covers. Every year I would leave my two daughters new heart pajamas, and of course, a small box of conversation hearts on their dressers so they would be surprised in the morning. This always brought me such joy to do this. I have not bought one box of conversation hearts or one pair of valentine pajamas since I lost my daughter. It is one of those memories that for some reason brought me too much pain. How something so trivial can stir up so much emotion does not make sense to me, but sometimes there is no explaining the feelings that come with this thing called grief. I am taking another small step in my healing. I have decided this year I will once again travel down the candy aisle and pick up two boxes of conversation hearts and then I will head over to the pajama aisle and purchase some pajamas with hearts splattered all over them. I will then surprise my two little grandchildren who I am now blessed to have in my life. I know to people who have never experienced the loss of a child this might not seem like a huge deal, but to me it is just another sign of a shattered heart slowly mending.
Lord, I pray for each mom who takes another huge step in her healing. To the outsider, it might look like no big deal but to us as we come to terms with our memories, we know we have taken a big step forward in healing our shattered hearts!
