Ascension : News From The Grotto - Thought For The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 12.02.2009 (Article Archived on 26.02.2009)

Recently we lost another islander suddenly. Cyril Thomas passed away and is missed by his extended family and many friends.

Recently we lost another islander suddenly.  Cyril Thomas passed away and is missed by his extended family and many friends.  I knew Cyril and his wife Patsy through their children mostly.  Claire is a good friend, we know Mark and Jolene, and his niece Justine is a special friend of mine.  Our deepest sympathies go out to them all, and the rest of the family.

The Thomas family is an especially close one.  They always seem to be getting together to celebrate something.  The day before Cyril passed away they had gathered to celebrate a birthday.  This closeness makes the loss more acute, but will give the family members a measure of comfort when they remember Cyril.  And there will always be someone close at hand when time is tough for one of them.   Family is so important, and a family with close ties is a special blessing.

Just this past week I came across a passage in a book.  The narrator was discussing his feelings when dealing with the loss of a dear friend.  I know it is just a fictional tale, but the passage resonated with its advice on dealing with grief.  It is a book by Jimmy Buffett, the singer and songwriter of all people.  Maybe it explains why his songs are so popular.  In it the narrator’s friend is responding to his grief.  Here it is:

“Old friend, grief is like the wake behind a boat.  It starts out as a huge wave that follows close behind you and is big enough to swamp and drown you if you suddenly stop moving forward.  But if you do keep moving, the big wake will eventually dissipate.  And after a long enough time, the waters of your life get calm again, and that is when the memories of those who have left begin to shine as bright and as enduring as the stars above.”

I think that it is excellent advice, and sums up the grieving process well.  We have no choice but to keep moving, and it is in the very act of moving that we get through the dark days that follow the death of a loved one.  We all experience it; loss is a part of our lives.  Everyone deals with it in their own way, but we all get through it by keeping moving, one way or another.

So, to the Thomas family, and all the others who have dealt with tragedy in their lives, keep moving and lean on your faith and on the kind shoulders of those who care for you.  Take a few moments on a clear night and gaze at the sky above.  Look at the stars above, and take comfort in knowing that your loved one is still with you, in your memories, and most of all, in your heart.

May God bless us all as we remember those we have loved and lost.