Thursday, June 5, 2008

A legacy

It's a weird day here in Chaos. The Weekids and I met my sister-in-law at the neighborhood pool. The kids were thrilled to visit with their cousins while Ben perfected the art of enjoying the pool without ever actually getting in it. That boy's terrified of deep water. So he flitted around the outside spraying us all with squirt guns and occasionally venturing onto the top step. Where the water is ankle deep.

At the same time, my husband's family has all gathered at a hospital twenty minutes from here. His mother and siblings, aunts and uncles and cousins, waiting for his Grandmother to leave this world for the next one. The machines keeping her breathing were unplugged this morning, but still she hangs on. And so it is an awkward kind of waiting, as the family holds their breath and makes certain she feels nothing but love in these last moments.

And it feels strange to me, as I sit listening to my children splash in the tub, rinsing sunscreen and grime from their bodies. Laughing and living as any other day, in the joyful unhindered way that only children can. They have no knowledge of the vigil going on just across town, for their great-grandmother. This woman, Hazel, whom they do not know, but, yet, is a part of them. Because one day long ago, Hazel gave life to a girl named Mary, who gave life to a boy named Shane who gave life to them. And today, while they are splashing, or napping or having watermelon for snack, she will go on, to meet the one who gives life to us all.

Goodbye Hazel. Thank you for the legacy you have left us with. The legacy that has become my family. We are praying for peace for you and comfort for all the ones you leave behind.

25 comments:

*pal said...

Hi Joy - may He be with you, and bring peace to you, Shane and your entire family as Hazel returns home. We are thinking of you all. xxoo - Paige, Phil and Baby Zane

Growin' with it said...

beautiful post. i love those surreal moments in life when all that has meaning is the life we see and the eternal life we don't see yet. makes me a bit envious of your loved one leaving.

Beck said...

That's both the beautiful and the awful thing about life - the way that it keeps marching on while somewhere, life is ending.
You'll see her again. I'm sure of it.

Kat said...

sigh...
This just makes me bawl. Thank you for such a beautiful, heartfelt post.

Lynn Stallworth said...

You have such a gift with words! That was beautiful!

Lori said...

That juxtaposition of life and death, that is all around us, all the time, always leaves me a little teary.

My heart and prayers are with all of you.

Sarahviz said...

So touching. Wishing her peace.

shay said...

I followed you over from a comment on another site and I'm glad to have found you.

Your posts are funny and thoughful and real.

I cried at this one. And then I scrolled down and read you will never stop crying inappropriately so I'm sure you won't hold it against me:)

Bless you in this time of saying good bye and celebrating life. God is so good in all of this.

painted maypole said...

beautiful post. Peace and comfort to you all...

Amanda said...

May wings of angels carry her.
Let the splashing be the celebration of a beautiful life.

Kyla said...

Beautiful and bittersweet. I'm wishing you all peace, Joy.

thirtysomething said...

Beautiful post. Moments like these...

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