Thank God For Sympathy Cards
by Triston Huntsmin
Losing someone you love is never easy. When my beloved mother
passed away last fall I wasn't sure how I would find the
strength to go on. So many of my greatest memories were filled
with the beauty and grace of my mom. It was wonderful to be
supported by so many friends and family at the funeral, but
ended up being the sympathy cards that I received in the mail
everyday for weeks afterward that gave me the strength to keep
living.
At first I felt strange as sympathy cards began arriving in the
mail. It felt awkward to receive messages of condolence and care
from people I barely knew. It quickly moved from feeling awkard
to being one of the greatest blessings that came from the death
of my mother. I grew to anticipate the coming of the mail each
day because I couldn't wait to see if any more sympathy cards
had arrived.
I grew to love the sympathy cards I received because they they
were filled not only with words of grief over the death of my
mom, but also with rich memories of her life and appreciation
for all she had given of herself. I received sympathy cards from
people I had never met with story after story about ways that my
mother's life had touched theirs.
My mom's best friend from high school contributed to the growing
pile of sympathy cards on my table by sending me a letter
everyday for a month. Each day these letters taught me new
stories my mom had never told and helped me to see past the
sting of her death by enjoying the fullness of her life. In some
ways I think the love I had for my mom grew deeper after her
death because of sympathy cards like these.
In the strangest way the sympathy cards I received after her
death have given me a whole new perspective on living. After
reading about all of the ways that my mother's life brought life
and joy to people around her, I have begun trying to make my
life count for similiar things. I was inspired by the sympathy
cards to make my own life a life that could be celebrated and
remembered positively by all of the people I know. I only wish I
would have learned more about living well from watching my
mother's life rather than by waiting to read about her life in
sympathy cards written after her death.
About Author
Triston Huntsmin has become an expert in allowing sympathy cards to
help him celebrate life. He shares her experience with the hope
that others will learn to celebrate life as well. Learn more
about sympathy cards at www.mysympathycards.info
article re-published 4 August 2006
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