“BLUNT FORCE HEAD AND CHEST TRAUMA”
I read the words on the death certificate and tears sting my
eyes; I catch my breath. My chest tightens up and the room starts to spin. “So,
this is how they will say you died,” I whisper to an empty room.
I can still see how you died. I can still see the look in
your caramel-brown eyes as you slid past me and over the edge of the granite
cliff. I can still see the dark red blood pouring from the back of your head
onto the stone side of the mountain and onto my shoes. I can still see your
eyes swollen shut as you bled from your nose and your mouth. I know how you
died. It continues to haunt me every night.
Yet, I must remember
how you lived. You lived with so much gusto. You crammed as much living as you
possibly could into every moment. Sometimes it annoyed me. “Can’t you just sit
still and read a book?” A ridiculous request, I know; but sometimes it was
exhausting just watching you live. However, you were an excellent salesman. You
sold me on life and love. We laughed and
cried through every quest, always searching for the next adventure. You taught
me to be brave. You taught me how to live fully as if every day were my last.
But most importantly, you taught me to love—to love God and to love you.
I will miss you as long as I live; yet, I live in hope that
one day we will be reunited. God holds me tightly in His ever loving arms as He
ever so gently carries me through this nightmare. The ache in my heart is
unbearable. My whole being yearns for you. Still, I am thankful—thankful for
the years we shared, thankful for the father and husband you were, and thankful
for God’s guidance in our marriage.
Yes, you died violently and early. Yet you lived
passionately and abundantly. That is what I will commit to memory. That is how
I will remember you.
Kim,
ReplyDeleteI sit in an echo of silence as I read this post. I cannot believe you are having to go through this nightmare. I cannot imagine the pain you are enduring. I am so very very sorry. I am praying for you and your family. I pray you have people around you that will just sit with you.
I am here if there is anything at all you need or want.
Mary Anne
Mary Anne,
DeleteThank you. As you know, our church family (12Stone HM) has loved us thoroughly through this disaster. I sit in awe of God's love as He works through the kindness and generosity of strangers. We have a long, painful journey ahead of us and much of the path will be traversed in the dark. However, I know God will be with us constantly. Please pray for the children, because they were all there and witnessed this horrendous event, especially Haden (my youngest). Haden is the only one of the kids who witnessed his dad fall 100 ft. before a tree stopped his fall. I am broken, but I am blessed.