Heaven's Way

Life has it's way of surprising me especially when I find out "that will never happen" happens. People have a way of letting other people down for whatever reason it doesn't matter. Even in the best of circumstances along the road of friendship and love everyone gets hurt at sometime and has most likely hurt someone at sometime. It may be a family member, friend, or misunderstanding or disagreement with coworkers or in a church family but we have all felt the sting. Grief happens with the loss of loved ones as well. Sorrow grips the heart when we see our children suffer. Some things cannot be fixed and as a mother I know how hard it is to let go and allow God to speak to hearts of those I love in ways I never could. The very struggles and pain of our children may be something that is needed so they can learn and grow stronger. Sometimes the comfort of what is home as we have grown to love is subject to a "New Normal" and it feels as if the rug has been swept from under our feet and we are grasping for something to hold on to. Change can be so hard. Personally I need to accept that there are some things that will never be the same. I remember when my parent's were still able to travel here from Michigan. I loved having them spend a week or so with us and the smell of coffee and toast often reminds me of them. There's something about morning and starting the new day with loved ones. Days were full when they visited and when they left to go home it was always hard. We would say our prayers and farewells, hug and kiss each other on the cheek then they would drive off and the tears came. When I would walk back inside the house was quiet, a different kind of quiet, an empty feeling but when I walked in the bathroom the smell of my Dad's aftershave would linger. That is why I always walked in there . I also smelled the oil of olay Mom used. That is sort of how it is now since Dad passed away and my Grandma passed away last year. There's an empty spot without them that cannot ever be replaced but the memories can be so real at times I can almost smell, feel or touch. Grandma the last time I saw her last summer kept taking my hand and kissing it and smiling. That always will live on in my memories. Her eyes were so big and expressive and in tender times so soft with love. There are so many memories . A life time of memories and no one is ever prepared to say goodbye but in the times of deepest sorrow I am thankful for the memories that come to life. I know my Dad and my Grandma are with me,it's just in a different way. The lingering scent or sense of touch is Heaven's way of letting me know that love never dies.