Monday, January 10, 2011

Contemplating Loss

This week Jamie Ridler asks her wishcasters, what do you wish to renew? My answer ~ I wish to renew my heart, in the face of my most recent loss.


My dear old aunt ~ my Mum's only sister ~ died early this morning. She'd suffered with sickness and pain for a long, long time. Despite her frail state, she spent so much of her time in service to others ~ she weighed only 85 pounds and had emphesema, but despite all that, she would brave the Winnipeg winter chill and walk to the hospital to visit and feed the elderly. She did this until she became physically incapable of doing this. My aunt was about a-year-and-a-half older than my Mum, who will turn 80 this May. Circumstances make it so that I am here, far from my Mum, while she mourns the loss of her only sister. I feel somewhat melancholy, about this loss and my distance from my family. The death of my aunt reminds me that my Mum will not live forever. And this, too, saddens me. But, I must live in the now, making the most of what I have, now.

It occurs to me that I must celebrate, honour, my aunt and the life she led. She had a strong faith, placed Jesus at the very centre of her life in all she did. She wanted to be a Grey Nun, but was too frail and sickly to enter the order. Nonetheless, she lived a holy life ~ never marrying, remaining ever celibate. She had a creative streak ~ knitted, painted, and played the piano. And she loved God's creation, trees, flowers, furry things and birds. So, dear reader, I have a small and simple request. The next time you have the opportunity, feed our feathered friends. Maybe you have a bird feeder, or maybe you have some stale-ish bread that you could break up and feed to the birds. In this way, we all can honour the loving and wonderful woman that was my Aunt Henriette.


image by Bahman Farzad

23 comments:

christina said...

a prayer for your aunt. and for you, my friend.
xo

gina said...

I'm so sorry to read of your loss. I will certainly feed some birds in honor of your aunt. My your memories comfort you, and may your heart be renewed.

Anonymous said...

Your dear aunt is an inspiration. Thank you for sharing her story with us. As you wish for yourself, so I wholeheartedly wish for you. Peace.

Ginny said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I most definitely will feed the birds in your aunt's honor. As you wish, I wish for you as well.

Lucy Ladham-Dyment said...

Great wish... sorry about your loss and yes I will feed the birds. As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.

Anita said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anita said...

I will fill my bird feeder today with peaceful thoughts of your Aunt, and healing thoughts of you!
What you wish for yourself, I also expectantly wish for you...

Blessings in 2011
~A~

Tery Lynne said...

I am so sorry for your loss! My aunt passed away, too my mom's younger sister and it has changed my life!

As you wish, I wish for you also!

Whiskey Tales by Beach Waling in the Desert said...

Thank you for sharing this...so sorry for your loss. I will indeed continue to feed the feathered ones and in honor of your Aunt.
As you wish for yourself so I wish for you also.

DonnaOnTheBeach said...

As you wish for yourself, I wish for you also. May your heart be renewed, may you and your family be surrounded with love at this time. x

Anonymous said...

so beautiful, tender, and filled with love. thank you. my grandmother (94 years old) always feeds birds, she taught me early on to appreciate them. thank you for reminding me.

As you wish for yourself, I, too, wish for you.

Anonymous said...

hugs, too, and condolences.

Killlashandra said...

Celebrating the life those who have gone before us have led especially someone as kind as your Aunt is a beautiful thing. What a nice post.

Unknown said...

May you heart be renewed. As you wish for yourself, so I also wish for you. ANd I'll go check my bird feeders right this minute!

S.M. Hutchins said...

You, your aunt, and your mom will be in my prayers. I am sorry for your loss. As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.

Anonymous said...

(((( Tinkerbell ))))

The gift to be discovered in Death of a loved one, is the knowledge that those of us who remain are to LIVE with all that is within us.

May you find a renewed since of LIFE, in your time of loss.

And as you wish for yourself, I wish for you as well.

Grace

Julie Jordan Scott said...

My heart is feeling sadness right alongside you. May the pain diminish and remember the love the was and is and always will be...

As you wish, so I wish for you also...

Mare/TommyGirl said...

You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. It seems so small, but I'm truly sorry for your loss. Grief and mourning is never easy and your aunt sounded like a great gal!

As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also!

Anonymous said...

Oh Roxanne... I am so sorry about your dear Aunt Henriette. She sounds like she was a wonderful woman. And I see you are a graphic designer too. I did that for most of my professional career. And too coincidental that you love wolves with my post today on Wishcast Wednesday... So lovely to come to your blog and meet you. You sound like a beautiful person.

As Roxanne wishes to honor and celebrate the life of her dear Aunt Henriette, so I wish for her as well.

Love & blessings,
xoxo Valerie

Valerie Hart
http://valeriehart.com

chickory said...

so sorry but i loved how you have honored her in this post. she didnt have to be a nun to serve in the spirit of CHrist..in fact, this way even better and more Christlike. not sequestered but in the world doing the real work. I do think that when we are hurting ourselves, it is easier to extend compassion. having a busted up neck makes me think twice when somebody barks at me or is rude or indifferent. you just never know the pain someone might be in.

loved this post. so sweet and thoughtful

Stephanie said...

As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing yourself in this way. Sending you and yours love.

Anonymous said...

As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you. And I will gladly leave something for the birds in honor of your aunt.

Anonymous said...

Your aunt sounds like someone to aspire to. I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

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