Grace, Laughter and WISDOM

This week my energies threaded in LOVE went into writing my MEMORIES of my brother Bill who died on July 25, 2024. Sometimes I still walk out in my yard, pulling weeds and thinking I need to ask Bill about THIS plant; “Why am I having such trouble with it?” And then I’m expecting Bill to simply walk on down our grassy side to “pop in” and say “Hello, let me take a look!” Grief takes so many forms and I’m sure every one of you has had to deal with this in your own life. Realizing it’s been well over a month, I wanted to be able to share the written words of Grace, Laughter and WISDOM that my brother shared with us for all of his 68 years. Oh sure, maybe there wasn’t as much wisdom at 1-5 years old as over his adult years…but there was always laughter and a huge amount of GRACE that even a child can share with his siblings.

I wanted to share my writing with his wife Norma…who was his soul mate in every sense of the word. She shared his life for 48 years. Their beautiful family of two sons with incredible wives, and seven grandchildren (all boys!) that were the LIGHT of his life, remain the LIGHT in the family moving forward missing the Papa they loved and adored. When I see them in person or in pictures…it somehow puts my own grief into a different place. Along with his wife Norma, THEY are experiencing a grief that changes life for them. My life is changed, but the wisdom gained through my Near-Death Experience sustains me in a way that keeps my heart in the right place. It doesn’t keep sadness from reaching into my BEING…but it helps me to resolve the feelings in a good way.

“Carry  your heart through this world like a life-giving sun! ~Rumi

In GRACE, LAUGHTER and WISDOM

I love this Rumi quote that really reminds us that WE carry our hearts in whatever way our mind, body connection decides. We are in control. If LOVE is always at the center of our actions, we will keep our intentions heading in the direction our soul is pointing. I love how “blinding” this sun is in the picture. LIGHT and LOVE can blind us to reality. But, here is what I’m thinking…that’s a good kind of blind. It helps us as we grieve the loss of someone or something that is so very precious to us. For me, it points to the reality that Bill is still with us…he’s just not in the picture that we call reality here in our earthly life.

Norma and her two sons all planted a living tree in memory in their yards. It’s a beautiful LIVING way we can remind ourselves that he is simply in another form. I have experienced the LIGHT of Bill. And in Marj’s words…”The tree is so awesome because Bill is still living in another form!”  All family will understand the concept in different ways…their own interpretation of the life beyond this one. What a beautiful understanding that ALL of us can live our vision of truth as we see and it is  ALL good!

In GRACE, LAUGHTER and WISDOM

Bill was a huge collector of ROCKS. Everywhere they traveled, Bill would pile rocks in their car or even fly home with some in his suitcase! The rocks circling this tree were collected up in the UP of Michigan…their last vacation just before his heart attack. He always looked for heart shaped rocks for Norma…a loving tribute to their love together. And this other pile of rocks were put together by Bill as he volunteered to help plant and keep a garden near the store where Norma was volunteering her time. The Bridge is a store where all proceeds go back to the country of origin to the women working hard to help make a living for themselves in countries where it is difficult for women to work.

And the last picture is the store’s tribute to Bill with chimes that will RING in the wind.  But it’s the post Bill put in that garden tells it all about his life and really ALL of ours.

LOVE is all you need!

In GRACE, LAUGHTER and WISDOM

I found this quote to put in a plant to give Norma. I  loved the words.

THERE ARE SOME WHO BRING a Light so great…to the world…that even after they have gone, THE LIGHT REMAINS! It’s a quote from the Bible that so many people may have missed the REAL meaning…

We ARE BEINGS of LIGHT! 

FULL of the LOVE that GRACE, LAUGHTER, and WISDOM can Bring!

ALL of us are BEINGS of LIGHT for our eternal life. Bill and so many others that have gone before us and living on as beings of light. But sometimes we simply forget to watch for that light in our lives. Bill is shining his down on us every single day…I have experienced it. I hope you will realize the POWER that the knowledge of eternal life can bring in our lives.