Today was a day of rare opportunity. Over the course of the past year, I’ve had the privilege and blessing of attending two funerals for people I hadn’t had the pleasure of ever having met. Although they were friends of friends I had not been afforded an introduction. Regardless of this, I am writing of the amazing presentation given by family and friends in the celebration of a life once lived rather than a life that has passed. When I was younger, I lost two very close friends and at that time I celebrated the brief moments I had with them; rather than grieving a loss, I felt the blessing.
Today, in particular, this funeral I attended was quite effectual. It is important however, to recognize the way life allows such amazing occurrences as my time at these funerals. Today, the celebration was of a woman who lived many years beyond medical expectations. She had been stricken with Polio at a young age and as a young mother of two she feared her children be taken from her. Rather than allow this, her friends and family came forward and attested to her abilities allowing her to not only raise her own children but go on to raise many foster children as well. Many patrons stood to speak of her wondrous impact on them and on those around her. Many things were said but a few stood out above all. One is, a family friend noted if she was told, you can’t do that, she would reply, watch this, and how she passed this trait on to her grandchildren who had all become successful. Although she remained most of her time in a wheelchair another attendee noted, “she may have had issues but she was never handicapped.” I know all too well the true meaning of their words and implications. Perseverance without complaint is a rare trait. This woman was an example of elegance and strength stretched out among the many to impact as far as she possibly could reach. These are just a couple of the beautiful mentions made of this woman’s long and inspirational life.
Rare opportunity such as this reminds me of the beauty of life, the way we all impact one to the other regardless of our acknowledgment of this; the amazing way we inspire through even the smallest act of kindness, perseverance, care, compassion and knowledge. I see these opportunities as gifts. A rare glimpse into another person’s legacy, a glimpse in the beauty of one life to another. For this I am grateful and humbled by the knowledge I obtain from these brief moments of clarity.
May we all be afforded rare opportunities to better our knowledge of each other and of life. May we appreciate the small moments and all that is bestowed within them forever engraved on our hearts and in our minds.
1degirl's Blog 