Small Blessings
I was 15 when my Grandfather died. 15. I remember crying while my Dad hugged me. Grandpa Joe had great stories. And I felt guilty because as much as I wanted to listen to them all, I also wanted to hug him and just go play with my friends.
Small blessings show up in the toughest of times. God often gives you MORE than you can handle on a regular basis to see what you are made of. I met my Uncle Ted, because my Grandfather passed away. The family split between the east and west coast. I didn't think about it until my grandfather died. I had the great opportunity to fly out west with my grandmother. My Uncle Ted wanted a reunion of sorts at his house in Washington State. I was just 16 years old. He was a younger, more active version of my grandfather. I loved his laughter, his physicality, his love for life. Uncle Ted's laugh could stop a room.
Uncle Ted went out of his way to make all of us comfortable. He also wanted us to see the Pacific Northwest. He was this amazing man I fell in love with. A man I went out of my way to spend time with through my 20s.
Uncle Teddy passed away this week. It hit me really hard. I find myself walking around my kitchen, apologizing that I haven't been to see him in 9 years. But I hear his laughter. I know that I am better because he was in my life. I recognize that it took death of a loved one, for this man to be in my life. Life is all full of twists and turns. People will show up to help you through tough times. My uncle taught me to laugh regardless of the pain you're going through. He taught me to love, even when you no longer can touch a person. He taught me that blessings can be found in tough times.
I am grateful for my time with my grandfather and my uncle. I am sad they are gone, but I am a better person because they were both in my life. I can't go say goodbye at his funeral this weekend, but I hear his laughter and that makes me smile.
How do you say goodbye from a distance? Faith tells me he can hear my prayers and faith lets me hear his laughter. Faith tells me his is free.