Dear Grandchildren

Dear Grandchildren,

I know that you are too young to understand aging, sickness and death and that’s okay, but when you get to be my age there is no way NOT to think about it. I’m going to write this with the hope that your parents will read it to you one day a long, long time from now.

Recently some dear friends lost their mother, Miss Gwen. She was quite old and had led an amazing life but she will still be missed by those who knew and loved her. She and her husband were married for decades and raised two sons and a daughter. Her children are my friends and we grew up together and attended the same small high school.

Before Miss Gwen died she was sick for a long time. Eventually she went to a facility that takes care of people who no longer can take care of themselves. The last time I visited her she could no longer talk. I sat there and held her hand while she looked at me with eyes that said she still had things to say, but the words no longer came. I thought about the look in her eyes and how awful it would be to not be able to tell my family and friends I loved them. When I learned Miss Gwen had died I wrote this poem and sent it to her daughter. She asked me to read it at the funeral and I did.

Remember

By Teresa Bell Kindred in honor of Gwen Young

If there comes a day

When I can no longer say “I love you”

Think of days gone by.

All the laughter that we shared

And all the times we cried.

Take my hand in yours

And say it for me

Because you know that it is true.

Just because I can not say it

Doesn’t mean I will ever

Stop loving you.

And when I am gone from this world

Even though we are apart

Death will not keep me from loving you

I will be with you in your heart.

So, dear grandchildren, I don’t know how old you will be when you read this or your parents read it to you, but if Poppa or I are no longer here, remember what I said in this poem, love lives on long after we are gone. The best way to honor someone who is in heaven is to live your life in a way that would make them proud.

There will be times the memories will hit you unexpectedly, with so much force that they will take your breath away. There will be times you will laugh when you remember something funny that we did. Don’t ever be afraid of memories, or to ask your mom and dad questions. Even if they don’t know the answer, they will do their best to help you understand.

The price we pay for loving someone is that saying goodbye can be very hard. Occasional tears are a good thing. They cleanse your soul and serve as a reminder of the power of love, so don’t be afraid to cry when you feel sad.

Psalms 30:5 says, “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Sweet, sweet grandchildren, each of you has brought us so much joy! I loved your parents first, but I love each of you just as much.

You are special. You are loved. You have a Savior who loves you even more than I do. Never forget that.

Love,

Nana