Yesterday, I attended a memorial service for a friends' mother who recently passed away. I found out via a post on social media that she had passed. Though I hadn't seen my friend in years, I realized that the service would be near me and that I had an opportunity to be there.
When the service ended and we went to share condolences with the family I weirdly kept thinking and also said, "thank you." I could not figure out why I felt so grateful. Saying "thank you" to people who are grieving is beyond strange but I was overwhelmed with gratitude that was mixed with sadness. I kept wondering why "thank you" was on my tongue. I spent the car ride and most of today thinking about why.
Here's what I've discovered: I was thankful for the privilege and honor to be able to witness and be in the presence of their mother's love. There was such beauty in the room, such open heartedness, such joy, such sadness, such support, such fullness of humanness because of HER. I did not know my friends mother but I felt her in that room and it was as if I was standing in the glory of the most holy. I felt blessed by attending her funeral. What a gift her life was to everyone she touched and how overwhelming that she even touched me through her death. I love her son and I am thankful and grateful that I have experienced her love and joy through her son. We live on in the people we leave behind for better or worse and it was clear to me that their mother left this world better than she found it. It was a privilege to be in her space. The energy in the room was of her creation, her love. It was a space so full of beauty that I feel beyond grateful to have been allowed to attend.
I want to live like she did. I want to love like she did. I was a stranger to her but yet, even in her death, she blessed me. I am sending all my love to you, Bernadita Guadamuz and your children, siblings, aunts, uncles, friends and ancestors. Rest in peace.
When the service ended and we went to share condolences with the family I weirdly kept thinking and also said, "thank you." I could not figure out why I felt so grateful. Saying "thank you" to people who are grieving is beyond strange but I was overwhelmed with gratitude that was mixed with sadness. I kept wondering why "thank you" was on my tongue. I spent the car ride and most of today thinking about why.
Here's what I've discovered: I was thankful for the privilege and honor to be able to witness and be in the presence of their mother's love. There was such beauty in the room, such open heartedness, such joy, such sadness, such support, such fullness of humanness because of HER. I did not know my friends mother but I felt her in that room and it was as if I was standing in the glory of the most holy. I felt blessed by attending her funeral. What a gift her life was to everyone she touched and how overwhelming that she even touched me through her death. I love her son and I am thankful and grateful that I have experienced her love and joy through her son. We live on in the people we leave behind for better or worse and it was clear to me that their mother left this world better than she found it. It was a privilege to be in her space. The energy in the room was of her creation, her love. It was a space so full of beauty that I feel beyond grateful to have been allowed to attend.
I want to live like she did. I want to love like she did. I was a stranger to her but yet, even in her death, she blessed me. I am sending all my love to you, Bernadita Guadamuz and your children, siblings, aunts, uncles, friends and ancestors. Rest in peace.