Waking up to the morning news, for me, and I’m sure for you, began a day of processing unthinkable tragedy. I read a lot of Facebook posts, in addition to what the news stations offered. The one that held a beautiful message was by Jennifer Boykin, author of a blog I follow, Life After Tampons. Jennifer is one the most spiritual, uplifting people I have ever met and I’d like to share her words with you. I choose to share her words because she is the mother of a child who has died and I am not. Although, I, along with you, share in the sadness, no one but another mother of a child who has died can convey such a beautiful message on a day such as this.
By Jennifer Boykin – Life After Tampons – A Jennifer Boykin Project
“On days like today, when the news is so full of tragedy, it can feel extremely dispiriting. As a mother of a child who has died, I find myself a bit too vulnerable to stories of great suffering.
On this Gratitude Saturday, I remind myself to be gentle with myself, not to pretend that the news this week hasn’t been deeply troubling.
And yet, at least in my case, the loss became the impetus for transformation —
for myself certainly, and, now, I hope, for the great many many women who are part of our greater LAT community.
In gratitude I quietly remember the goodness in this world. And too, these wise words that were given to me when I most needed the hope that my daughter’s short life wasn’t in vain.
‘And Grace’s eternity, Jennifer, is that you are changed forever. And from this moment on, everyone you meet and every life you touch will be different because YOUR LIFE was touched by Grace.
Grace lives on, Jennifer, through you.’
And so it is.
In the spirit of gratitude for the amazing transformational power of love when applied to loss and suffering, I send healing prayers to all who are in pain today.
Blessed. Be.”
Jennifer’s words touched me deeply. When we experience a huge loss, we ARE changed forever. Jennifer reminds us to pay attention to where that change is going to take us and to keep in mind that our transformation through our loss is going to touch everyone we meet the rest of our lives.
Through her words I’m compelled to not ever let loss take me down a bitter, hard-hearted, self-pitying road, but instead to keep my heart wide open to becoming a stronger, better person that might be able to extend an understanding hand to another.
Jennifer’s words touched me today and helped me process this unimaginable event. I hope my words, along with Jennifer’s help you – and I hope your words help someone else – and so on, and so on. We are all connected. We all need each other.
And so, as another day goes by, as our country sits in sadness, hug your loved ones, spend time with the children in your life, be kind to each other and….I have written.
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