July 16, 2008

The fourth in the Letters to Lisa series of posts. Cast of characters include Jan, her sister-in-law, Em is a niece and Brian, Jon and Lee are nephews.

Lisa -

Were you there?  Did you help?  Jan had her baby yesterday!  He is a nice sized boy and your mom says everyone is well.

What a bittersweet time for them.  Maybe even for you?  Do you miss things that go on down here?  I’m remembering the Grey’s Anatomy (stop laughing) when Denny, who had died a few weeks/months prior became an “other world” character.  He talked about how it hurt the deceased to be separated from their loved ones as much as it hurt the surviving loved ones to be away from the deceased.  Were the writers onto something there?

I mean in the Christian faith, we’re taught to believe that after this life we have no more pain, a new body, it’s all sunshine and roses.  But, is it really?  Do you miss playing with Em?  Flirting with the waiters with me?  Margaritas – on the rocks, no salt?  SHOES!?  Watching Brian play soccer or cooking with Jon?  Singing in folk group?  Being a nurse?  What about your soaps!?  Your lunches with sweet little Lee?

So much you did enjoy in this earthly life, in spite of the pain you endured.  I do know that we all miss these things for you anyway. And, little baby Dom, while he never got to feel your healing, loving touch, will know all about Aunt Lisa and how much she loved him and anticipated his arrival. I’m sure your family will take care of that.

I know you didn’t always feel appreciated by them, but I have to believe now that you’re gone, they realize what a gift you were to each and every one of them – in ways they probably never even knew. I know I have, so I must believe it to be even truer for them. If only we all knew what we had when we have it…our lives would be so much more full, more peaceful, more loving.

~Heidi