February 10, 2015

One Year

It is one year ago my sweet father left us. I wrote this to him, so he knows just how much we miss him.

                                                   One Year

The calendar says it is a year. A year since you went away. ..A year since we saw your smile, or heard your laugh, or held your hand… And that may be true. Snow melted. Grass grew. Rain fell and winds blew. The sun shone. Leaves turned and fell to the ground. Snow came again.

Life continued without you. A tremendous hole stole the place in our lives where you belonged. We grieved. We cried. We picked up the phone to call you. We prayed. And slowly we learned to smile again. We even laughed again. And learned that it was alright to do so.

Our lives will never be the same without you. Ever. We will never completely heal. We will always have the pain and sadness and longing for just one more moment with you… One more chance to hold your hand or hear your stories or laugh at your jokes. 

Our lives now have a new normal… one in which you are still here in our hearts and in our minds. No amount of time or turning of pages on a calendar can erase the memories of you and the love and happiness you shared.  Yes, time will pass. Seasons will change. We will grow older. But you will remain with us. Always.

Just as the promise of spring carries us through a bitter cold winter, the promise of eternal life and being with you again carries us through the days we spend here without you. We rejoice for you, Dad. Your journey is ended. Someday we will meet again. Wait for us. And keep them smiling up there while you do.






10 comments:

  1. Thinking of you today and saying prayers for your Dad and your family.

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  2. So beautiful Billie Jo. He must be so proud of you and smiling down on you from Heaven. Sending prayers and a hug this morning, my friend.

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  3. So so sweet. Bet your Dad is looking down on your today and has a big smile for you and your family. God bless.

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  4. These sadanniversaries come all too quickly. Thinking of you today.

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  5. {{Billie Jo}} Sending you virtual hugs my friend. Blessings

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  6. This letter to your dear Father is incredibly beautiful. It is hard to not tear up from reading your words. Everyone says that with time, grief gets easier and less. I'm not sure how much, but I know it is still difficult a year later, even years later. I remember when my cousin died when she was 17 and I was so little so I didn't understand grief much back then, but as I got older I saw how much it still hurt my Aunt -her mom- everyday years later. Missing someone we loved so much is so hard and to me that hurt lasts years, but I'm thankful God rests our hearts in Him even in our sadness and teaches us to smile and laugh again. How blessed it is, though, that you have such wonderful memories to cherish and knowing that you will get to see your sweet father again.

    Prayers and hugs to you,
    Jazzmin

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  7. A month and a day and it will be the anniversary of my daddy's death and I can feel it in the air. Prayers.

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  8. What a beautiful tribute to your dad's memory. Made me get a lump in my throat. Hugs across the miles.

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  9. (((hugs)))) You are loved, you know that right?
    You have such a beautiful heart.
    Thinking and praying for you.

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  10. I love this amazing, beautiful letter. Your Dad must have been something special because you are you. I'm so glad that you've shared all of this with us.

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Thanks so much for saying hello!

Billie Jo