Dear Louie,
Over the years, I’ve collected grief quotes to articulate my ever-evolving feelings for you. This one randomly came from Marvel’s WandaVision.
“But what is grief, if not love persevering?”
That’s the thing with grief in year 7. It can come in the ordinary days and it can come in the momentous milestones. It’s been awhile since I’ve broken down in the tsunami of grief. These days it’s more like a bubbling stream… in the backdrop of the scene rather than taking up all of the space.
So I think about what has persevered through the years...
I know that life does not guarantee even one minute for each person, so I lean into gratitude for all the minutes I’ve experienced in my life and our family on earth.
I know that many families are incomplete and what I see isn’t the full story of a family’s hopes or suffering, so I can hold space for those who are not pictured.
I know that I miss you dearly and the longing will always be there, and I cherish that part of my heart that is only available to you.
I know that my love for you always perseveres.
For your birthday this year, your dad has arranged to pay for birthday cakes from a favorite local bakery. We hope we can bless another family, who is lucky enough to celebrate a day as special as your birthday.
Happy 7th birthday, Louie!
Love,
Mom
