32

Today was the funeral. It was beautiful, simple. Over 50 nurses came to give their support, their love, their share in the loss of a beautiful soul, their friend. In between all the tears, it was a beautiful site to witness, to be a part of, being a part of the gray. The family that was so much a part of her life, the family of nursing, all wearing their gray scrubs, to say, "we care, we are sorry, she will be so greatly missed not only among her biological family, but among her family of nurses."  Thirty-two... a small number, and definitely not enough years on this earth for her. But 32 can also be multiplied, and I still don't think the number would be big enough to count all the smiles she brought to others, all the laughs, all the lessons, all the patience, all the joys, all the brightness, all the love she gave to each person she met along her journey. This past week, a friend and fellow co-worker, passed away. She was young, has two little girls, a husband, a wonderful family. This tragedy touched the entire hospital, as she was in the float pool and helped every department. She was battling an internal fight, and ended up ending her own life. Many of us are still in shock, and it has been hard to understand how one could feel so much despair that they truly believe that ending their life is the best thing for them, their family, their friends. But the mind is a very powerful thing, and we will never understand it completely. I ask you pray for her family, her little girls, her close friends. And that she has found the peace that she was so desperately searching for. Because of her loss, maybe things will change, or open our minds and resources more to how we can all help others more in her same situation. She will be greatly missed. This saying was on a memorial by her casket today... "When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure." A treasure indeed. Each life is a treasure. I pray to be kinder, treat every life as a bigger treasure. Life is so fragile, so short, but so beautiful.  Don't let anyone leave you without them knowing they are cared for, they are loved, they are important.  Life... it's the most precious gift God has given us!! Everyone matters!

I wanted to share some thoughts that were shared throughout this past week....

"Be Kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about!"

"You are Beautiful. You are Loved. You are not Alone."

"There is terrible suffering in our world today. Tragic things happen to good people. God does not cause them, nor does He always prevent them. He does, however, strengthen us and bless us with His peace, through earnest prayer."

"Sometimes people come into your life for a reason. 
Sometimes people come into your life for a season."

"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose.... all that we love deeply becomes a part of us."

And I wrote this one night... "Some days there is so much sadness all around, and one asks why, what if. And wishes one could just fix it all, make all sorrow, trials go away.  But within that sadness, God is always there. I realize more and more that He is strongest in our weakest moments.  He understands, and surrounds us completely with His love and grace. His beauty and love are all around us, in big things and little things, in sunsets, in still water, in the rustle of the breeze, in a new life born.  He's there in a hug, a smile, in saying, "I love you," in kindness all around. In the Water of Grace. We are never alone."

"Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me."  ~John 14:1