Thursday, January 01, 2009

2009

Another year has dawned. It brings freshness and hope with it.

We have had a good holiday this year, definitely better than last year and the year before that. We have two new homes and new traditions, which has made it easier. We have been busy spending time with family and our kids. It has been good to be busy.

We have made it through a very difficult year. We are in a better place than we were last year. We have grown, grieved, healed and progressed. This year we will continue to grow, grieve, heal and, Lord Willing, progress. We are journeying, and our journey will never be done.

I've shared before the analogy of grief as a cloak. This was shared with me by a very special person who has grieved before me. The cloak some days is heavy and overbearing, almost impossible to move forward under the weight. Other days, it is a light spring cloak, easier to carry, although ever present. I have felt the cloak lightening and becoming more manageable to carry. It will always be there, though. Make no mistake, we will never be the same. We may look OK, we are OK, but we are not the same. We grieve even though we may appear not to be.

We have been blessed through our year. God has carried us through. Your prayers, thoughts and tokens of love have carried us through. We have been blessed with good health, laughter and love this year. We have been blessed by you, our family and friends, from far and near.

Thank you.

We are filled with HOPE. May your year also be blessed with HOPE and peace.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Lisa, Happy New Year to you all. Thank you for your paragraph on grief. This past month the 'cloak' has been more cumbersome and awkward to wear. Surprisingly, I didn't expect it. It's funny (strange) how one can expect to get used to it... but, really... you never do.

The Mom said...

Lisa - praying your year is filled with Hope and Love! Thanks for your post - it was, as always (like Annette's - it must run in the family) insightful and eloquent. Sending lots of love and prayers to your family and Annette's.

All 4 My Gals said...

Lisa, I hope 2009 brings continued healing, peace and joy. Thanks for coming by and giving me support for Emery's new diagnosis. Much love, Nicole

Amy said...

Happy New Year to you and your family, Lisa. The cloak analogy is so accurate - it's been 20 years since I lost my brother, and I still feel that cloak around my shoulders. The pain subsides, a little more year by year, but you'll always carry that feeling of loss.

Here's to hope in the New Year...