Thankful Thursday
Thankful today for those people in life we may take for granted.
We laid my sweet mother-in-law to rest yesterday. Secret Agent Farmer Man and I have known each other since that fateful day we played kickball in third grade. His mother treated me as a member of their family long before I was an official member. Meals together, holidays, Christmas, time at their home, slipping gas money in my pocket, hugs, long talks, and quiet afternoons were just so many of the memories of her.
How is it that Fate dropped me in this fortunate life that I have?
We received people for five hours, looped around the funeral home and out the door, as a testament to this fine lady's influence in our small town.
I will leave you with a quote I find comforting......
Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
Henry Scott-Holland
Michelle, I am so sorry for yours and your families loss. I love that quote, it's gotten me through some tough days.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Randy. I shared this quote with my daughter recently with the passing of her friend. Quite a powerful piece of writing.
DeleteI am so sorry for your family's loss. What a testament to her life with so many people. I pray your family is comforted by that.
ReplyDeleteJen, all those wonderful people we received at the funeral home were quite a comfort. Many kinds words spoken.
DeleteI am really sorry to hear your news. That poem of Henry Scott-Holland's is a personal favourite; I have heard and used it many times over here and it never fails to both move and encourage. I don't believe the people we love ever really leave us. To risk another quote: "So long lives this, and this gives life to thee." All the best to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteMike, thank you so much.
DeleteBeautiful........ Ha, your photo would have been perfect for my post today! Hope you have a peaceful day...
ReplyDeleteShug
So touching! Thankful indeed for the beauty of those who touch our lives in a special way.
ReplyDeleteWhat a awesome poem and what a wonderful relationship you had. I am sure she will be greatly missed.
ReplyDeleteThat says it all the poem. So appropriate after reading about your Mother in-law. Her memories stay in your mind always. A lovely Mother in law you
ReplyDeletehad. Both of you were blessed to have each other to do things with as you wrote..
Sending condolences your way. Love the quotation!
ReplyDeleteSorry to read about your loss...please take care...
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful post giving tribute to a woman you loved and who loved others. my condolences to all of you.
ReplyDeleteYour MIL sounds like a fantastic woman and friend. You are so lucky to have had that relationship with her. I did not have that kind of love and acceptance from my inlaws, so I can tell you, it was a gift. I totally agree with the poem. Take care.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteA lovely tribute to a much loved lady...My condolences to you and your family....
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. The poem is loving and so touching.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Grant us courage and grant us wisdom for the facing of this time.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. I knew my mother-in-law since I was 13 years old, so I can empathize. I've never heard that poem but I sure love it...
ReplyDeleteMichelle, your post remembering your mother-in-law is wonderful. You are fortunate to have had a long and successful relationship with her. Of course, I am not at all surprised that she was fond of you. Condolences to the family.
ReplyDeleteMoving tribute Michelle. Hugs Francine.
ReplyDeleteA powerful post... beautiful comments and photo, and a wonderful tribute.
ReplyDeleteA marvelous tribute honoring someone so special. Not many like that today. What a blessing she was to to so many lives. Perfectly fitting poem. Time is a great pain HEALER.
ReplyDeleteA moving tribute.
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry for your loss. I am glad you loved her and she loved you back. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSorry for your loss. You are fortunate to have had such a wonderful Mother-in-law.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to read someone so special to you has passed. I will say you are so lucky to have had this woman and this relationship in your life, most of us don't get this. My mother in law decided the day she met me that she did not like me and that has never changed.
ReplyDeleteOh Michelle! (((hugs))) its never easy to lose such a wonderful Matriarch, and a good friend. She will be sorely missed xoxo
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear of your mother-in-law's passing Michelle. She was a dear lady loved by many and will be greatly missed I know. A wonderful tribute and a very beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteSo very sorry for your loss. I must say that was a very moving tribute and poem.
ReplyDeleteI do love your gorgeous fence shot as well. The lighting just looked heavenly.
So sorry for your loss. A fitting story you share here to remember the variety of life you had with her. It speaks volumes about what she meant to the locals by the number of visitors you had.
ReplyDeleteThe title of taking those for granted is so apt as I have had a virtual wipe out of my older family in the last two years. Although it's difficult to believe they've gone, their voice, thoughts and advice are always with me. Hope you can gain some comfort from that.
A wonderful tribute to a lovely woman. You were so fortunate to have had her in your life and that poem is so fitting to add to this post.
ReplyDeleteYour mother in law must have been a very special lady, a beautiful gift to many a season of your life.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. The poem is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSending hugs Michelle That is a beautiful poem. Take care all of you. HUGS B
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear of your loss....she sounds like a very special lady!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear this Michelle, your mother in law sounds like she was a gem, many people, as well as family will have wonderful memories to look back on. You chose the perfect poem here.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a beautiful poem! Great tribute to your friend.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear this. You have found a very beautiful way to remember your mother in law.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great poem and image.
ReplyDeleteTo receive so many visitors surely is a great testament to Ms. Elois and how many lives she touched!
ReplyDeleteVery sorry to hear! Thinking of you and your family!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written Michelle. She was a wonderful lady loved by so many and I'm certain....she dearly loved you.
ReplyDelete