Remembrance, Light, Compassionate Friends, HOPE

The 17th annual worldwide candle lighting of Compassionate Friends was last night at 7pm. Once again I was honored to speak here at the Florida chapter where folks gathered as I visualized our globe being covered in light... 24 hours of bright light "so that their light may shine brighter", those children all ages, all causes all "gone too soon" from this earth.  

I have heard from folks around the country some that were iced in, snowed in, their chapters gathering cancelled because of weather. Those who lit candles in their homes at precisely 7pm some who stood outside in the darkest of nights to hold their candles up to the heavens. Some noticed the skies darkness and were amazed at the number of stars shining brighter than nights before.... wondering if those kids had created bigger openings to look down on us, or find a way to get back here for the holidays and warm or open hearts that have been closed to receive the gifts and the life that still burns within each of us to live bigger, better, and differently than before.

The slide show that was watched, the children's faces, the little ones, the teens, the kids; those who had hit "grown"..... their names all there as folks sat waiting to see, to absorb that moment when it was "theirs", honoring/remembering/seeing through different eyes all over again. Precious Child played as the pictures moved ... one could only hear collective breathing, a cry, a sigh, a Universal feeling of loss with a tinsel of hope.

Matthew Yarber... his parents there for the first time... gone too soon, from a rare brain disease known as Moya Moya. At the end of the service as folks met one another, they were approached by another couple... they too were there for the first time. It seems that Matt had gone to high school with this other couple's son years ago; they remembered his name, his build. Both couples, same high school for their kids, both kids now fill the screen of the Compassionate Friends local chapter, both couples standing with candles in their hands, both kids, "gone too soon."
Elizabeth Hover the infant, Dallas the infant, their tender photos there as precious child was played... the kids Joey, and others there, along with Frankie and handsome Duke, they were there, all gone too soon as parents, grandparents, siblings and a few tiny little children were there as well. The readings, the candles the energy was there, along with the spirits of those children as the evening moved on... It was palpable, it was filled with  messages. It was once again moving and a plea to each individual to stir the embers in their hearts to LIVE on in their best vision of themselves.

Many in their homes, lit those candles, they held up the night, the light, the hope in healing ways on that night that is now thought to be the largest mass candlelighting known around the globe.

Some have spent years talking about the fact that their is no name for parents who lose children... when a spouse dies one becomes a widow/widower... but no name for one who loses a child or grandchild. No "label" if you will.  As I looked at the people last night, as I was lost in the eyes of the kids on the screen it hit me, hit me where I live.

Of course there is no "new name, no label" there shouldn't be. there should be no confusion at all.

As I spoke to those there I reminded them; 
they are the parents, the grandparents, the godparents, the siblings of that precious child. that has not changed. They will always be that.
They do not need to boggle their brain wondering what they will now be called ...

Hearts that are connected in love cannot be separated by death; death is not that strong.

 Remembering, Honoring, Loving, Lighting the night as we remembering the children... as we also light the inner fire of self, so that the path is brighter within.

Many blessings to all as you walk into the holidays, may you find the gifts surround you each day both here and from the next place as angels visit ...

Walk in Beauty,
DRSES
www.authordrsherryeshowalter.com