COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS ANNUAL CANDLE LIGHTING SUNDAY

Remembering The Children

Join Us

Tomorrow Night

7pm

Lighting a Candle

Wherever YOU are

to

Remember, Honor

the

Children

ALL

Gone too soon

A bit chilly and looks like a grey sort of day

here in the

sunshine state today

but

it's Saturday

the day

before thousands will gather at their local

Compassionate Friends chapters around the globe

to

light their candles of remembrance

of and for the children

who have died

as they remember them

with local ceremonies

all around the globe.

Imagine

our globe

and the lights that will be lit

the visual of that powerful light.

I like to think that it also lights the way for those parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, and extended families

as well.

It lights the way to hope

and

it lights the path of healing ways

into the days and months and years ahead for those of us

who are here

and guides us on the path into healing

as we move forward.

That very light that will be lit

tomorrow night at 7pm

is lit for those children

who have died

to light the memories

also

lights the hope

for those left behind

and

serve as a reminder

that

life is sacred

and

it is worth living.

Life is a gift

and

each day is indeed a gift!

One that we can embrace in times of great stress and pain

of loss

as we move into healing

if and when we choose

to.

The light is there to guide us

and

there is no distance

as

hearts that are connected in life

cannot be separated by death.

Death is not that strong.

It becomes our responsibility to

say the names

of those who have died

to bring them into

our holidays

in ways that are healthy

in ways that give others permission to talk about them

without fear of upsetting us!

It becomes a time of

doing for others to remember loved ones

perhaps

buying a gift for someone else

in honor of a child who has died

or

lighting a candle

and

keeping it burning in their memory during the holiday season.

One thing is certain

those children will be watching as the candles are lit

tomorrow night

I just feel certain they are laughing in the

next place

and

they are

wanting those left behind to be living

their best lives here

...

Life is for the living

and

it is so short

a time

.

~ Don't blink friends ~

Tomorrow evening here in Florida

folks will gather,

there will be great opportunities for hugs,

for fellowship

and

for folks to embrace the lights

and

step into healing.

There will come a time when the music stops

the talking stops

and

the song

"Precious Child" plays

and

the video rolls

and

we will see their faces

ALL

the precious children of those seated there

and

we will hold our breaths

as we watch for the glimpse of that precious child

that brought us there

for this special night together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcpBwB5ruu0

And

in my arms

I will hold many who in their hearts will see their child

in their hearts living on

"precious child"

We will spend a remarkably powerful evening together

as we individually light our candle

for those precious children

and

I will hope

that each candle lit

lights a path

for those

who walk in that door remembering

...

I will pray that when they walk out

their step is a bit lighter

and their view is a bit brighter

as they know

those precious children do

"live on" within their hearts

illuminating the path of those who love them

so that they may live on brighter

and

find ways to embrace the season of holidays

and walk into the

New Year

knowing

they are surivivors.

The HOPE

in healing

is

the

LIght

The fire is burning brightly, the sage is offered up in prayers

you are being thought of today,

I hope you will join us in spirit

by

lighting your candle

at

7pm

as we

remember the children

and

those who love them

Walk In Beauty

DRSES

author of

Healing Heartaches, Stories of Loss and Life

www.healingheartaches.com