Sunday, August 26, 2007

Sympathy Messages for children

When Maxine died, we were crushed. She is a lovely, giving woman. None finer.
A 'third' grandmother....
Agnes! What do you mean is ? She's dead, right?
Well yes and no.
Her body is and she stopped physically interacting with us, but all that she 'was',
lives on - if we allow it to be so.

That is how all grieving people feel! We want our loved one to still 'be' here.

Just like we want be kept alive in thought, after we ourselves are in the heavens.

More on Maxine in a second...

Okay, my friend Carol is yelling at me to reveal the best things I've ever given to those suffering a loss.

The first thing, which I've given to everyone close to me, and which I believe EVERY home should have, is a copy of Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep.
From the prayer card of my dear Brother in law who died at 34.
I framed this for my toddler nieces:


Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond's gift of snow

I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the Autumn's gentle rain

When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night

Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die


That isn't something you go the library for.
You get the Hardcover for yourself and any friend or relative who needs it.
In fact I believe they even offer live forum help when you buy their book.

The main book is Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep

With all the deaths I've helped people through,
that is the one help I never fail to send.


And my personal favorite gift, which we discovered when Maxine died was originally for the kids' sake.
Even though they gave it to uncle Harry, it gave them IMMENSE comfort.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the kleenex.
The usually unemotional Uncle Harry loved the gift so much, that he gave it prominence and shows it to everyone.
The dear old man bought a telescope.
The kids use their cheap one just fine.

We named a star after her,
and sent uncle Harry the big, gorgeous framed display.
We even found out that her real first name was Aloha.
This was a wonderful remembrance that everyone feels good about.

Uncle Harry was an engineer by profession. A very logical-type personality.
At first I thought, that he would think, naming a star after Maxine was silly.
But as he sank back in his chair and looked at the exquisite framed deed to a real location in the heavens, his spirit reconnected with Maxine.
There was a relief on face, a joy really, that she was in a sense gone, yet still a light in our lives.


And remember, grieving children need something to physically cling to.

See what I mean here
Name a star ISR


I wish that was available years ago for the children. But they all know how to find Maxine in the night sky, pray and tell her "Aloha".





Bless and be Blessed
AG

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