grief
Losing a family member is one of the most traumatic life events; Families must support one another to endure the five stages of grief and get through it together.
The Family Fight Over Dad's Estate
One never thinks it will happen within their family. I am talking about the total self-destruction of the family unit that you have had all of your life. Well, I am here to tell you that your family/siblings change over the years, and they change even faster once your parents have both passed away, or at least some of ours have.
By Susana Shadows6 years ago in Families
The Clearing
The cherry blossoms fell gently, floating on the breeze. They swirled around on the eddies that whipped to and fro, sending the tiny petals tumbling about the clearing. One fell on an upturned palm, worn with age and scarred by life. Long fingers picked it up gently, and it rose to the view of a weary face. The simple beauty of this new life did nothing to ease the lines on it; rather, the creases deepened, and bloodshot eyes began to water. The blossom trembled as the long white digits shook. They released it, and the petals once more drifted lazily. But the breeze faded away, and the little flower fell, spiraling ever further down. It came to rest on a simple gray stone. Regular, smooth, and polished, this was not the work of Mother Nature. It had been carved by the eyes that now came to rest on an inscription. It read,
By Matt Miani6 years ago in Families
Young and Misunderstood
I was 10 years old when he left. The only man I ever loved. My hero. My best friend. My dad. I remember the days he would come home from work and I would run up to him like I hadn't seen him in forever. I remember sitting on his lap while he told me stories and made me laugh so much. I remember him dressing me up like a princess and taking pictures of me in his yellow car. I remember being happy. Smiling. I remember being loved.
By Louise Mcbonn6 years ago in Families
Grief
How much time after a death of someone or something dear to you does it become easier to understand and deal with? Does it matter what/who died? Does it matter how the death occurred? Is one person's death more important to you than another that wasn't "as close" to you?
By Melissa Weakly6 years ago in Families
What the Loss of a Loved One Taught Me
Death has always been a tough subject, and we all fear that day when we lose a loved one. That day came to me six years ago, when I got the call that my best friend had died in a car crash the night before. I was devastated, but through this experience, I was able to learn some very important life lessons. These lessons, though difficult, helped shape me into the person that I am today.
By Amanda Batson6 years ago in Families
My Buddy
That Saturday was a regular day for me: dance class in the morning, then a trip to Five Below. But, after dance class that morning, my life changed forever. We pulled into the parking lot, and my mom stopped me from getting out of the car. “I have some bad news,” she said. What went through my mind was that my great uncle had passed away, because just a few days prior, he had been admitted into the hospital for a stroke. So, I started preparing myself. I knew he was sick and wasn’t getting the proper care he needed. Instead, my mom told me that you passed, and I was instantly in disbelief. I said, “okay,” but I just wanted to get out of the car. She started asking questions like, “Do you need a hug?” and “Are you okay?” My response was, “I’m fine.” I went into the store to buy some candy and headphones.
By Diamond Ninja6 years ago in Families
A Hurt Unlike Any Other
My grandmother Bertha was one of the most important people in my life. There wasn’t one step I took through life where she wasn’t right there beside me. Right there beside us all. She was the hand we had to hold, and the rock we didn’t deserve. While she had her flaws, as we all do, she was perfect in all of our eyes. With all of her roughness, her trauma, and her radiance, she was perfect.
By Malichi Neil Morris6 years ago in Families
Surviving Loss
People do not truly look at things in life. We experience so much during our every day but yet we miss it as it happens. We do not notice these things until they are brought to our attention. Today I notice every ounce of detail that God sends my way. Whether it's the gorgeous blue skies or the color of the mountains in spring. For the last year and 2 months, I have looked at everything and everyone in life so much more closely than I did back then. I take every day as a gift and every opportunity as a sign. In the past I was never one to preach to God for help or to pray for a sick friend. I always believed in God but on April 16, 2017, I really looked to him for guidance and strength. On April 16, 2017, I had woken up to a phone call that no mother ever wants to hear. A phone call that would put you in a state of shock, a phone call that you would never think you would recover from. My youngest son, Bretlin, who is 2-years-old and just a month shy of 3, did not wake up that morning. This day was Easter Sunday, and all kids on Easter Sunday run to their baskets and look for the goodies the Easter Bunny had left them. But God had a plan for Bretlin that no one knew of but God himself, and I believe Bretlin knew too. At the moment of receiving this phone call, I was in New Jersey visiting with family and Bretlin was spending the weekend with his father. I was three hours away from home! To get a call and to be that far away from him crushed me. I cried the whole way back. Still in shock and disbelief, I prayed to God to save him but it was too late. I praise the Lycoming County Coroner for waiting for my return, just so I could see him before he was taken away. My sweet Bretlin was healthy and was never sick! During the week he was fighting a head cold and was seen by the doctor. Medicine was prescribed to treat a small ear infection. He was perfectly fine and getting better come time for him to go to his father's. Later we were notified of his cause of death. They told us that the medicine was not treating the ear infection like it should have. While he laid to rest the night before, all ready to wake the next day for the Easter Bunny... Bretlin's heart stopped in his sleep at 4 AM Easter Morning. The infection in his body had attacked his heart, causing it to stop in his sleep. Going peacefully with the lord, I envision God holding his little hand and walking at his side to the gold gates. The day before I had spoken to Bretlin on the phone and the last thing he said to me was "Wuve you, Mama." My forever favorite words!
By Lindsey Bierly6 years ago in Families
My Prayer to You, Granny
Dear Granny, The morning I woke up to the horrifying phone call, I drove fast to your side; I prayed for God to wake you up. I prayed that you not have to go this way, because you deserved a peaceful eternal slumber. I prayed that you not live in a state of fear or pain, that you’d get better, wake up, and experience all of the love surrounding your bed. I prayed you stay with us a little longer so I can wish you a happy belated birthday from just days before, a happy belated Mother’s Day that I was drunk for, and only wrote a post on social media while feeling sorry for my stressed out self.
By Anna Paige6 years ago in Families