Monday, September 26, 2011

Tender Mercy

September 25 is always a bittersweet day for me. Bitter, because I feel again the pain of your absence. Sweet because I reflect on the beauty of your life and the myriad of lessons I've learned from you, such as the reality of life's fragility, the necessity of loving those around you and telling them you love them, the uselessness of getting upset over small things, the fact that experiencing pain only expands our ability to feel love. But we have to choose to let that love back in.

Sometimes I wish more people had known you and your kindness, genuineness, love, joy. I just try to add a little more of those things to my own life, to pass on your legacy of those good things.

On most Sundays, I perform with a big choir downtown for their weekly broadcast. I think it's a Tender Mercy that on yesterday's broadcast they programed the song "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You", because this is my prayer for you. For us both, really. (don't tell anyone, but I sobbed through the whole performance of it)

"May you walk with sunlight shining
And a blue bird in every tree
May there be silver lining
Back of every cloud you see

Fill your dreams with sweet tomorrows
Never mind what might have been
May the Good Lord bless and keep you
Till we meet again"

I'm so grateful to know we will meet again.
Love you and miss you,
B