Loving and Letting Go

Last week we said goodbye to three of our senior friends. It was a tough week to lose so many in a short time. The girls were spent with grief over the loss of their dear sweetiepie, a friend of more than 5 years. He was in his nineties and wasted away with cancer but always an encouragement to them and eager with a smile and a hug.

Another elder friend Jo we hadn't seen for a while due to being hospitalized with cancer. It was sad to not be able to see her one last time for a sweet memory. Lastly there was our dear recluse of a lady who always welcomed the girls in but never went out much herself. The last memory we have of her is right before Christmas she tried to dance with the little girls as she steadied herself with the cane, that day she looked mighty spry. We went to the funerals and paid our last respects and comforted one another in our grief of having known and loved these great characters.

The older girls are pondering whether it is worth it to keep visiting the elderly when they die seemingly so quickly (in their perspective). They question if it is worth the investment of their hearts to love someone they will lose so painfully and have to wobble under the burden of grief. They have yet to make a conclusion, but we continue to make our visits and spread our sunshine and love where there is opportunity.

There has been more than a shower of tears this week and lots to pray about and people to pray for. I wonder if it is not for the expansion of our hearts, a garden for God's compassion to grow for the least, the lost and the forgotten. That is where my faith holds me. I hope that my dear daughters will also see that loving is a worthy investment that yields great rewards. I hope they see that walked out in my life.