October 15, 2021. That’s my date I hold close. Tomorrow is the first anniversary of my mom’s passing. While planning her funeral, we found a notebook she often journaled in. She never wrote daily, sporadic at best. Two entries stood out. October 15, 1984, and the very next entry was October 19th. Those dates were the day of her death and her funeral. Her words from those journal entries gave us so much comfort and JOY. I too have found pictures of her from October 15th since then. Three weeks ago my daughter was going through my old college photos and came across letters I saved from my study abroad semester. There was a letter from my mom, dated, as you’ve already figured out, October 15, 1996. She talked of mundane happenings, then wrote of my childhood. She also wrote words of encouragement-telling me I would be a great mom and to use my talents for God. Words I needed to read after I couldn’t hear her voice any longer, speaking them to me. Both her journal entries and that letter lead me to joy. A remembrance of a full life, of a wonderful mom and mentor. God knew. He knew I needed those words and this date as a marker to pause and give thanks. To let my heart remember grief makes you stronger and gratitude is the glue for brokenness.
Julee! Thank you so much for sharing this. Isn't it amazing how God works in the details? What a beautiful series of little touches. I love it so much. AND you and I both know this post was not a coincidence...considering it's the day before this precious date for you. Thank you again for sharing this. It reminds me that when God sparks an idea to share something - I need to listen.
Always amazed how God is thinking of us and goes before us-right in the details! Yes, no coincidence found in this post. ;)Just another way God spoke to my heart. Thank you for listening and sharing. Keep shining. We are all better for it. 💕
October 15, 2021. That’s my date I hold close. Tomorrow is the first anniversary of my mom’s passing. While planning her funeral, we found a notebook she often journaled in. She never wrote daily, sporadic at best. Two entries stood out. October 15, 1984, and the very next entry was October 19th. Those dates were the day of her death and her funeral. Her words from those journal entries gave us so much comfort and JOY. I too have found pictures of her from October 15th since then. Three weeks ago my daughter was going through my old college photos and came across letters I saved from my study abroad semester. There was a letter from my mom, dated, as you’ve already figured out, October 15, 1996. She talked of mundane happenings, then wrote of my childhood. She also wrote words of encouragement-telling me I would be a great mom and to use my talents for God. Words I needed to read after I couldn’t hear her voice any longer, speaking them to me. Both her journal entries and that letter lead me to joy. A remembrance of a full life, of a wonderful mom and mentor. God knew. He knew I needed those words and this date as a marker to pause and give thanks. To let my heart remember grief makes you stronger and gratitude is the glue for brokenness.
Julee! Thank you so much for sharing this. Isn't it amazing how God works in the details? What a beautiful series of little touches. I love it so much. AND you and I both know this post was not a coincidence...considering it's the day before this precious date for you. Thank you again for sharing this. It reminds me that when God sparks an idea to share something - I need to listen.
Always amazed how God is thinking of us and goes before us-right in the details! Yes, no coincidence found in this post. ;)Just another way God spoke to my heart. Thank you for listening and sharing. Keep shining. We are all better for it. 💕