We sang the hymn We Give Thanks today and though I cried through the entire song, it also blessed me.
Through every pain and trial, You provide
Light in the dark of our distress
Lifting us from on high when we cry
Turning our grief to gratefulness
Let the redeemed of God rise up and sing
It reminded me to continue to strive towards a wholeness Russ alway encouraged. He was amazing like that; he could always truly see and hear what someone was trying to share. Always when my heart was hurting, he was there. He would write, pray, hold me and always bring me to a better place.
keeper of her heart-
he was always there
he may not have realized
his impact on my soul
but now
3 years later
on the eve of the new year
god and my guy
turn my grief to gratefulness
i need to hold it tenderly
gently
i carry russ tucked in my heart
but realize in the doing
that i must do more than acknowledge it
i have to believe in me
in my aloness
in my strengths
in all of it
past
present
future
in this new year
i will give thanks
as it holds all of me
of possibilities
of memories
and both my darkness and my light
i am humbled
with this gift of hope
finally
i have the strength again
to offer myself compassion
a lesson learned from russ
finally
i understand
i too need love and kindness
as i open my heart to that
i realize i am standing at the gateway
of hope