Special Angel In Heaven   There's a special angel in Heaven that is a part of me. It is not where I wanted him but where God wanted him to be. He was here but just a moment like a night time shooting star. And though he is in Heaven he isn't very far. He touched the heart of many like only an angel can do. I would have held him every minute if the end I only knew. So I send this special message to the Heaven up above. Please take care of my Angel and send him all my love. (Author Unknown)

We do not need a special day to bring you to our minds; the days we do not  think of you are very hard to find. Each morning when we awake we know that you are gone, and no one knows the heartache as we try to carry on. Our hearts still ache with sadness and secret tears still flow; what it meant to lose you, no one will ever know. Our thoughts are always with you, your place no one can fill. In life we loved you dearly; in death we love you still. There will always be a heartache and often a silent tear, but always a precious memory of the time that you were here. We hold you close within our hearts and there you will remain, to walk with us throughout our lives until we meet again. Our family chain is broken now and nothing seems the same, but as God calls us one by one the chain will link again.

Telling It Over Again

In each retelling there comes a little bit of healing, a little more acceptance of the reality of our loss.

In each retelling there comes another acknowledgment, of the uniqueness of the personhood of our precious child.

In each retelling there comes a little less uncertainty, a little more internal peace of the finality of his death.

In each retelling there comes a greater recognition, an important affirmation of the memories we hold dear.

In each retelling we seek a patient audience, who'll graciously accept our need to tell them one more time.

The Face of Courage, The Heart of Strength by Joanne Cacciatore(c) 1998 What characteristics define courageousness and strength? Many would say that courage is facing inherent fears. A person with an intense fear of heights would be courageous to parachute from an airplane, wouldn’t he? Instead of running from the debilitating fear, he stood and faced it. And what about strength? A person with demonstrative strength, perhaps a professional body builder, will not run from a challenge. He works out everyday, learning the skills necessary to increase his potential and toning muscles in preparation to lift that arduous bar bell. The grief process has captivating similarities to the physical challenges posed to athletes. Yet, while athletes are admired and revered by society, many families in the grief process say they feel isolated within their own community. There is a misconception that compelling emotions should be repressed- that a person who openly shares tears is powerless and vulnerable. There are those individuals brandishing the “carry-on-chin-up” stoic posture after a tragedy. Too often, these individuals are praised for their courage and strength. Some are commended on how well they are doing with pat-on-the-back encouragement. They have seemingly “carried on” with life, and put the tragedy and pain behind them. Some are admired for maintaining such unemotional composure, mistaking this “business-like” acumen for courage and strength. Others remain surreptitious with their emotions thinking others will view them as weak. But take a look at the real defining characteristics of courage and strength. Does it take more courage and strength to bury the frightening and overwhelming emotions? Or does it take more courage and strength to deal with the grief- to look into the face of sorrow- to stare into the heart of pain? Those who have wept- really wept from the depths of the soul can answer that. Is there any emotion more harrowing, intimidating and physically exhausting as those experienced during those times of deep grief? Certainly not. So which individual is truly the strong and courageous one? It must be the one who faces the pain full force- the one who has the courage to tell others the truth about their sorrow- the one who, instead of running, stands and faces the inconceivable challenges of grief- the one who isn’t afraid to share the raw emotions of grief with others, to encourage understanding and compassion- the one who will reach out to others in grief and help carry another. Those are the defining attributes of true and indisputable courage and strength.