It is just a little note from my eldest daughter, a forgotten poem handwritten on folded paper like the homemade cards she made as a child. It accompanied a small butterfly brooch that rested under a blanket of cotton in a humble white box. It was her Christmas gift to me. The ink is now faded, dissolved by falling tears, the paper worn by my hand. In spite of its tattered appearance, it remains my most priceless possession.
Long after the brooch was removed and the box discarded, the note remained cocooned in the back corner of a dark and rarely opened drawer. I rediscovered Tara's forgotten words after she died when I yielded to an overwhelming and uncharacteristic urge to explore the drawer's contents. It was as if an unseen force guided me to its hiding place.
With a soul wounded by the cataclysmic change of trying to live in a world without her, I read her forgotten message with new eyes and listened to her voice with the ear of my heart. I sometimes wonder if she knows her note sustains me.
Tara speaks of change, hope, perseverance, and most of all Easter joy. She shares her faith and reminds us of what is possible with God. As we once again celebrate the resurrection season, I give you the gift of her words in gratitude for her wisdom, in thanksgiving for God's healing grace, and with much love – her’s and mine:
Long after the brooch was removed and the box discarded, the note remained cocooned in the back corner of a dark and rarely opened drawer. I rediscovered Tara's forgotten words after she died when I yielded to an overwhelming and uncharacteristic urge to explore the drawer's contents. It was as if an unseen force guided me to its hiding place.
With a soul wounded by the cataclysmic change of trying to live in a world without her, I read her forgotten message with new eyes and listened to her voice with the ear of my heart. I sometimes wonder if she knows her note sustains me.
Tara speaks of change, hope, perseverance, and most of all Easter joy. She shares her faith and reminds us of what is possible with God. As we once again celebrate the resurrection season, I give you the gift of her words in gratitude for her wisdom, in thanksgiving for God's healing grace, and with much love – her’s and mine:
THE BUTTERFLY
How is it that such a
delicate thing can be such
a powerful symbol?
The butterfly reminds us
that to reach our utmost,
patience and willingness
to change are required,
and in even the lowliest
of caterpillars great
beauty lies.
Most of all it is a reminder
that through the cocoon
of the tomb Jesus took
flight and gave us life
everlasting. So remember
that change often comes
at great risk, with great
rewards, and it is through
the life and death of Jesus
that we take wing.
I love you, Tara
Reflections:
Psalm 33:22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks~Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:34b)
Speech is the mirror of the soul; as a man speaks, so he is. ~Publilius Syrus
-If I were to give the gift of my words to sustain those whom I love, what would they be?
Practice:
-Write a letter to each person you love. Speak your heart. Put your letter in a safe place as a special gift to be discovered.
-Never let a day pass without telling someone you love them.
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