Day 338 of 365 Days of Being Thankful



         Today I am thankful that our group had a candle lighting ceremony last night. It is always a sad evening but there are also very sweet moments and sharing together is very healing.  No one wants to be one of us but we are all there for each other. A slide show of our kids played while we ate and chatted.  Then Carol, our group leader, asked us to be quiet while the slide show played so we could identify our kids.  Carol and her husband Joe are really caring people.  They go out of their way to help other bereaved parents even though they have their own grief of losing their son Sean. For the regulars, we sort of know and recognize each other's kids.  The pictures are all of happier times in our lives when we didn't know the grief and heartache that was waiting for us in the future. My friend Kim gave me this beautiful red glittery bird. I put it on my tree as soon as I got home.  Priscilla and I still have to make our Christmas presents for some of the people in the group. My friend Kathy's son Daniel is buried in the same cemetery as Amy.  They put up a real tree for Daniel and it has roots.  After the holidays they take the tree home and then plant it at their shore place.  I think that is such a wonderful thing to do.
We read a remembrance poem as a group and then lit five candles on the table.  Then Carol gave us each the lit candle of our child and each person spoke and said whatever they wanted to say. Carol's nephew had recorded music for us.  He has a fabulous voice.  One of he songs was the Christmas Hallelujah song which is one of my favorites.  The  closing song, written by a bereaved dad, was beautiful and sad.

Tonight I Light This Candle

by Alan Pedersen
"God wrote this song.I consider myself fortunate that he trusted me to hold the pen."
Tonight I hold this candle In memory of you
Hoping someway, somehow, my love will shine through.
I close my eyes lost in the glow
There are so many things I want you to know.
Chorus:
This candle says I love you - This candle says I miss you.
This candle is saying I remember you.
When I'm holding it toward heaven,
It feels like you are near.
If you're looking down tonight,
And see this candle burning bright,
It says I'm wishing you were here.
In the glow of this candle I can almost see your smile
And it carries me away for a little while
To another time, another place
When all it took to light up my world was your beautiful face.
Chorus
Someday, someway I'll see you again
I'll hold you in my heart until then.
This candle says I love you - This candle says I miss you.
This candle is saying I remember you.
When I'm holding it toward heaven,
It feels like you are near.
If you're looking down tonight
And see this candle burning bright,
It says I'm wishing you were here.  

Comments

  1. AmyberkrnDecember 4, 2018 at 7:09 PM

    So beautiful ! Glad you have people who truly understand . Creating rituals are so healing

    ReplyDelete

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