My Dear Children:
There are no words I can say that will make any of this better, make sense of it, or make you forget what has happened. My heart aches for you in ways I hope you never have to feel for people you love. But, I know you do. And in times like these, I tend to seek out words from others that may help me cope with whatever I feel. These are a few of my favorites. Perhaps, this week, if you are feeling up to it, you can post some of your favorites, or even some of your own. This space is for whatever you need. I am always around, never far that I won't hear if you call. For now, though, read on and I hope you find some small measure of comfort, at least for a few minutes.
Love always,
Bunj
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
--Mary Frye
For a second you were flying
Like you always wanted to
Now you’ll fly forever
In skies of azure blue
We’ll see your smile in every ray
Of sunshine after rain
And hear the echo of your laughter
Over all the pain
The world’s a little quieter now
The colours have lost their hue
The birds are singing softly
And our hearts are missing you
Each time we see a little cloud
Or a rainbow soaring high
We’ll think of you and gently
Wipe a tear from our eye
Like you always wanted to
Now you’ll fly forever
In skies of azure blue
We’ll see your smile in every ray
Of sunshine after rain
And hear the echo of your laughter
Over all the pain
The world’s a little quieter now
The colours have lost their hue
The birds are singing softly
And our hearts are missing you
Each time we see a little cloud
Or a rainbow soaring high
We’ll think of you and gently
Wipe a tear from our eye
--Victoria Bruce
While I was not close to our Fallen Falcon, I felt the energy change in the school. After suffering from two losses in such a short time, I feel like it is my duty to provide any who reads this some comforting words and quotes which I have enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteSay not in grief: “He is no more.” but live in thankfulness that he was. - Hebrew Proverb
“We do not have to rely on memories to recapture the spirit of those we have loved and lost -- they live within our souls in some perfect sanctuary which even death cannot destroy.” - Nan Witcomb
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” - Dr. Seuss
An honest man here lies at rest,
The friend of man, the friend of truth,
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so inform'd;
If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.
Robert Burns
I was on the same bus and track team as Josh, we weren’t that close but we did share some good memories together. Although I wasn’t close with him, I can not imagine the pain his death has put on his family. Losing Cole was something that took a lot out of me, it was horrible. Baileys passing was so confusing to me, from seeing his smile everyday to never again. My boyfriend getting into a very bad car crash and having the thought that he could have died scares me so much. Losing someone is one of the most heart shattering things that a person can endure. I’m keeping the Weber family in my prayers and I’m praying Oakcrest and our community can be safe. I hope we can soon lift the spirits.
ReplyDelete“The world
gives you
so much pain
and here you are
making gold out of it
There is nothing purer than that” -Rupi Kaur
I'm praying for him and his family.
ReplyDelete“Stay strong through your pain
ReplyDeletegrow flowers from it
you have helped me
grow flowers out of mine so
bloom beautifully
dangerously
loudly
bloom softly
however you need
just bloom”
-Rupi Kaur, Milk and Honey
“Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you.” -John Green, Fault in Our Stars
ReplyDelete“No one can tell you what to expect or can offer a guide to grief. Because every relationship is so unique, no two people grieve the same way. And you have no idea how you are going to grieve till you are grieving.” -Alysia Reiner
“Tears water our growth” -William Shakespeare
“"I'm gone now, but I'm still very near, death can never separate us. Each time you feel a gentle breeze, it's my hand caressing your face. Each time the wind blows, it carries my voice whispering your name. When the wind blows your hair ever so slightly, think of it as me pushing a few stray hairs back in place. When you feel a few raindrops fall on your face, it's me placing soft kisses. At night look up in the sky and see the stars shining so brightly. I'm one of those stars and I'm winking at you and smiling with delight. For never forget, you're the apple of my eye.” -Mary M Green
I am lying next to you, awake now while you sleep,
ReplyDeleteFor death has just released me, yet in your dream you weep.
If only you could see me, so peaceful and serene,
But you must live a little more and carry on the dream,
A dream from which one day you'll wake and see me by your side,
And know for sure that I'm still here and that I never "died."
So now go on, be strong and look for me in wondrous things,
In the quietness of starlight and the warmth that sunshine brings,
And hear my voice to calm you, to say that it's all right,
For I'm only here beside you, whispering in the night.
Of course you'll cry, you'll miss me, your very soul will ache,
But I am here, a breath away, waiting for you to wake,
So know that life is just a dream of love and fleeting pain,
And know I'm waiting by your side to love you once again.
- Paul Hayward
"Ask anyone who has lost someone close to them how their life changed after they lost their loved one, and they will tell you that the before and after their grief was so drastically different that they truly felt that they grew from the experience" - Valerie Orr, Picking Up the Pieces
ReplyDelete"Grief is not a condition to be cured but a natural part of life. Spirit does not know loss; it knows that every story begins and every story ends, yet love is eternal" Louise L. Hay and David Kessler, You Can Heal Your Heart
"Grieving is a process that does not completely end; it evolves and becomes integrated into your life. ... Grieving is a normal part of life, and the more we express our grief and not try to hide from it, the easier it becomes to manage."- Stephanie Jose LMHC LCAT, Progressing Through Grief
Although I wasn’t close with him I remember seeing him everyday walking into school with his sister Emily. I remember the last time I saw him and thought he’s going to do big things in his lifetime. I wish I knew he was battling with his own mind. I wish I could do something to change his path and I wish that for every person I lost. I can’t imagine what his family is feeling and I wish I could take that pain away from them.
ReplyDeleteWeep not for me though I have gone
Into that gentle night
Grieve if you will, but not for long
Upon my soul’s sweet fight
I am at peace, my soul’s at rest
There is no need for tears
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years
There is no pain, I suffer not
The fear is now all gone
Put now these things out of your thoughts
In your memory I live on
Remember not my fight for breath
Remember not the strife
Please do not dwell upon my death
But celebrate my life
“I have to be strong not for me
ReplyDeleteBut for everyone else
I want to cry I want to scream
But no one can see my hollow tears
I keep you near to keep me sane
But the thought of you makes me sad
I want to hide and cry alone
But you are here and it keeps me real
I know you've left this solid ground
But in my heart you still live
You've kept me together for so long
So I will stay strong for everyone else” - Kelvin Jernigan, Strong
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ReplyDelete“Unmindful of the roses,
ReplyDeleteUnmindful of the thorn,
A reaper tired reposes
Among his gathered corn:
So might I, till the morn!
Cold as the cold Decembers,
Past as the days that set,
While only one remembers
And all the rest forget, -
But one remembers yet.”
-Christina Georgina Rossetti, One Sea-Side Grave
"Those special memories of you
ReplyDeletewill always bring a smile
if only I could have you back
for just a little while
Then we could sit and talk again
just like we used to do
you always meant so very much
and always will do too
The fact that you're no longer here
will always cause me pain
but you're forever in my heart
until we meet again"
-Zohaad Irfan, Until We Meet Again
I bend but do not break.
ReplyDeleteI've been lost, but I'm not a loser.
I'm a wreck, but I'm not totaled.
I'm fractured but not broken.
I've failed, but I'm not a failure.
I've fallen hard but can get up again.
I'm isolated, but still I'm free.
I have been destroyed but will rebuild.
My heart is broken, but it will mend.
See, no matter how close I come to breaking, I just continue to bend.
-Selena Odom
It's okay to miss you,
ReplyDeleteIt's okay to cry.
Just know I'll never forget you.
This isn't a permanent goodbye.
Sometimes I sit and wonder
If you are standing by my side,
Giving me the courage
To carry on with pride.
I'll hold onto our memories,
Until this life is done.
In my heart is where I'll store them,
Where we can be as one.
- Samantha Hann