In Loving Memory

This was one of the email blogs that I sent through the summer. It was to remember the anniversary of my husband's passing. Today I post it on my new blog, to remember our wedding anniversary. It would have been our 27th.

“…like the rush of a mighty wind…. God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it…..therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will dwell in hope.”

Acts 2: 2, 24

When I found these words last week, I was reminded of what we felt at my husband’s funeral. The priest gave the final blessing at the graveside and I heard him say “this is no one’s fault….we are here to celebrate this man’s eternal life”. Immediately I felt a wave of cool air on what was the hottest day of the summer. It rose up from the grave touching my face as it rushed skyward. I turned to Frances and asked her if she felt the cool breeze and she nodded yes. I said “Daddy turned on the air conditioning for us” He was some skilled tradesman.

He had bravely fought depression and alcoholism for many years; was the best father and husband he could be; a man of integrity and humour who worked 7 days a week so that he would not drink, went to therapy and detox. When he was sober he was grateful for every good thing in his life. When the addiction took hold, he was tormented and despised his perceived weakness. He lost the battle to suicide. Overnight, he was gone.

Standing at the grave, I knew in an instant, that John was finally at peace and I felt that peace deep inside. I walked away from the grave, smiling, knowing he was really ok now…the darkness was over. I asked a few people if they felt the breeze. What a strange question when the temperature was over 100 degrees. I could see the pain on their faces and the sweat pouring down. No one felt it. Weeks later I was with his best friend’s wife, and I asked, did you feel a cool wind at the grave? She did! She said she thought it was John’s spirit lifting up to heaven.

I found this joke just in time for his anniversary, and with his Scottish humour, he would see this as a fitting memorial:

A heating and cooling technician trained a small chimpanzee to help him. The chimp was the perfect assistant. He wasn’t afraid of heights. And because he was small, he could squeeze into ducts to work on them. Best of all, the technician didn’t need to pay him. One day, a customer called because his air conditioning was running and running. But the house didn’t seem to be cooling down. The technician examined the cooling system and found a problem in the ducts. The customer asked if it would be difficult to fix. “Nope,” said the technician, “I have a little duct ape that will fix the problem”.

hoping words of comfort and humour fill your life
your friend

alexsandra