Two and a half years. It’s a long time… and a short time.
That’s how long my wife Shelly has been gone from our family.
My sweetheart. The woman I’d built my world around. The mother of my six children. My eternal companion, left this earth to be with our Father in heaven two and a half years ago.
As I prayed last night for each of my kids I was overwhelmed at the thought of their resiliency. Their courage and strength. Their buoyancy and happiness.
Do THEY know how long it’s been? I’m not sure. But I am sure… my kids have blessed me beyond belief. They’ve been real-life guardian Angel’s in my life.
I’ve been rescued many times by them. And they don’t even know it.
I’ve been uplifted as I’ve watched them thrive. I’ve seen them grow by leaps and bounds. I’ve marveled at their ability to focus on the beauty in their lives.
And I’ve felt God’s hand in the life of my family like never before.
Maybe because we’ve needed Him more than ever before.
Recently, I was chatting with a friend who’d lost his young son almost 5 years ago. When I described to him how Shelly frequently visits me in dreams (so frequently that I now KNOW I’m dreaming when I see her) he described to me that he doesn’t get that with his son.
His memories are all pictures and videos.
I was kinda surprised. “He doesn’t get that?” I considered. “And I do?”
I was overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude. “She knows I need to feel her presence frequently. How wonderful it is that I get that?”
Last night, sleep was “fleeting at best.” So I got up early and drove off to run a few “early morning” errands.
As I returned I noticed some beautiful tulips blooming in front of our house. The same tulips Shelly had planted the Spring before she passed away.
That Spring… Shelly had been invited over to the Boise Temple to do some volunteer grounds keeping service. For hours they had been digging up hundreds of tulip bulbs to replant new.
When I got home from work she was thrilled to show me bags and bags of tulip bulbs that they had given her to take home and replant wherever she wanted – the same ones she had just uprooted.
For days, she happily replanted tulips all over our property… and this morning… there they were again right in front of our house… blooming in all their beauty.
Another visit from Shelly… brightening my life.
Then…
A wonderful thought crossed my mind.
Two and a half years. So far so good. Our family is strong. The kids are thriving.
And with our Heavenly Father’s help we will continue to learn and love and grow… together… until we are all reunited as a family. Whole again.
The thought left me breathless.
And my eyes teared up.
Not because of pain or grief…
But rather, pure gratitude.
I know that the Savior lives. And because of His sacrifice I will be able to be with Shelly again.
For the eternities.
Isn’t that awesome?
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