In spite of all the truths I have learned throughout life, there is but one, I know to be undisputed. Death will arrive at the doorstep beyond question.

Welcomed or not it appears, prepared mentally or not for its arrival its quickness strikes, even with warning, yet, it still leaves its scar upon the soul.

When it introduces itself early in life, it builds the weight of pain and burden upon the one that remains. Sowing seeds that will grow a tangled, underpinning system of inescapable grief. The marooned life moves forward and battles the sorrow only to later discover it will at times raise its head and remind the despaired heart it has no intentions of leaving.

So hard indeed for a poor widow-woman whom for the moment has been preserved from a physical death. Left behind, unattached and lonely, so immature of how to cross swords with the unexpected.

But as time passes and the last one standing marches on through life, it is evident that the prayers of the one that has passed were strong enough for God to listen and throw a shield of protection around its subjects.

A young mans love and influence within such short years of life that can leave behind a mind filled memories of his existence that will carry those survivors of his passing through the elements of this world, was indeed, a well planned and lived life.

The path for the young mother now to walk, as the tears sparkle from her cheeks, trying to hide them, she does succeed most times but her safe protection she has just buried in the ground.

Time rolls on and the members of the family grow and move apart. Suffering follows once more and life finds her weeping for the one lying asleep in the silent grave beyond her reach.

As the strains of life continue until she is greeted with occasional visits from her grown loving children. They are met with that beautiful smiling face of hers, but what they can’t see is her remarkable power to hide the perplexities of her life. Love, is the only influence they will see and her delightful eloquence that she is such a master at portraying.

Look closer, there behind that layer of skin and muscle where hides a red beating heart. Come a little closer, watch as each beat brims with pain and swelling from a love lost 39 years ago and still resides, tucked away in the corner of her heart.

Those happy moments when her loved ones draw close are short lived when time calls them back away from her and no longer surround her watchful eye.

Their life is wearied as well, with each visit, knowing that each time could be the last time of seeing the most precious being on earth.

(P.S. – Happy Mother’s Day mom. Your smile and love are sorely missed since your departure but rest assured, the memories of you and dad have a safe place in the corners of my heart.)