Autumnal Memories
As the leaves started falling from the trees and the skies turned to grey for the first real time this Autumn, memories of my sister's life changing cancer, diagnosed in November many years ago, came flooding back. Childhood illness can cause many types of losses and bereavement to the whole family. The sister that came home from hospital was so different to the one that went in. But despite the challenges she, and we, faced we found beauty and strength that we had not previously known.
Here's a little poem from my musings...
Autumnal Memories
Autumn leaves falling
Grey skies rolling
Memories of pain and sadness
Float across my view
Memories of loss
Fun filled days, stripped away
Replaced with uncertainty
A dark winter up ahead
Not only once,
But twice
Autumn came
To steal the joy of sibling love
To leave a bare empty place
The longest,
Darkest
Seasons of the soul
A life full of joy
A soul full of strength
A girl full of dreams and hopes
Plans and love
Gone
Replaced with frailty
Replaced with loss
Replaced with the uncertainty of how long she had left
Autumn was hard
Winter was darker
Why her?
Why me?
Why us?
But even in winter
A warmth was known
The arms of a Father
Who won't ever let go
And winter won't last
The thaw will come
Spring will soon appear
Spring will bring
The joy of new life
Discovering wonders
Not previously known
New dreams
New plans
Though with more apprehension
New life
New friends
Needing more understanding
New love
New faith
With a greater depth and more mystery
New joy despite pain
New laughter through tears
New perspective on home
New experience of the eternal
A crown of beauty for ashes
The oil of joy instead of mourning
"Home is where Jesus is"
That's what she said
Whatever the season
Whatever the place
Home is where Jesus is
That doesn't change.