Cherish the memories

Grief is an act of remembering.
Sometimes the memories bring tears, sometimes the memories bring a smile and sometimes the memories even bring laughter. But, it doesn’t matter if the memories bring a chuckle or a sob, we still cherish the memories. To cherish the memories is to cherish the love. Remembering is our work as those who grieve, to remember, to never forget. That is our joy even in the midst of great sorrow; our joy is to hang onto the life that we shared, to keep the person alive in our hearts by remembering.
Grief calls us to remember, but it also calls us to reflect. Grief invites us to reflect on how our lives and the world was different because of the person we loved. Each person we remember was unique and left a unique impact on the world. No one saw the world just the way your loved one saw it. No one touched the world with his or her words and actions just the way your loved one did. No one can impact your life in the same way as your loved one did.
As we reflect on how the world is different because of that special person in our lives, we also reflect on how your world is different without the one you love.
The pain of grief is that our lives have changed with the death of a loved one, changed forever. Life can never be the same without our partner, child, sibling, parent, friend.
But that change calls us to reflect on the legacy that our loved ones have taught us. What was the essence of your loved one? Was it love? Was it faith? Was it devotion to family? Was it love of life? Was it service to others? What was the most important thing for them? What are the qualities in your loved one that you most admired and want to carry with you in your life?
Grief calls us to remember and to reflect and it also calls us to live. Grief teaches us that life is short and relationships are precious. So as you remember your loved one, live. Cherish the moments you have and the people you love. Live life to the fullest in a way that honors your loved one’s memory. So as you reflect on the mark your loved one left on you and on the world, live. Live life to the fullest in a way that will leave a mark on those you love and on the world. Remember, reflect and live.