Goodbyes

I received two emails in the last hour or two.

One from a brother.

and one from his sister.

both of whom I'm privileged to call friends.

she is a very dear friend.

their family had been deeply on my heart this afternoon, though I didn't really know why.

today they said goodbye to their mom.

I read their words and wished I could gather each of them into a hug.

I will, I'm sure, in the coming days and weeks.

I read their words and wept.

at their love for their mother.

at the fact that they and so many they love walk now in the valley of the shadow.

with joy that, as one of them put it, "the end is not the end".

I sat and wept tonight.

Because it was all I knew to do.