This past year, my husband’s sister Olga died. Although she had been sick before, her cancer was in remission – so we all thought. We spent a great Christmas together, our happiest ever perhaps. She went home and did not feel well in January and immediately went to the doctor. Her surgery was on January 30. On March 23, she was gone.
This will be our first Thanksgiving without Olga and we are all bereft. I think of my friend who lost her husband one year ago from this Thursday. I think of another woman who lost her mom, who lived with her and was her best friend. I keep thinking of so many people who face Thanksgiving with an empty chair like ours.
Which is why I have not stopped thinking about this post from the blog A Concord Pastor, by Fr. Austin Fleming. From the post, which is the work of Fr. Fleming:
Dear God,
that those we miss
to those we miss.
who have gone before us.
Help us to trust that one day
we shall be with those we love
when your mercy gathers us together
in the joy of the life you promise us.
My prayers join yours for you, Mark and Erica and all friends and acquaintances who will have an empty chair this Thanksgiving.
This post so resonates with me, Fran, as the holidays near and the longing for those who shall no longer be at the table tugs at my heart. No coincidence Thanksgiving is in the month of remembering – I remain grateful for the privilege of loving and being loved by family members and friends who have blessed my life – and I miss them.
Praying with you and for you and yours.
My dear Fran,
On January 17th, at 3 in the afternoon, the very hour of Mercy, my niece lost her 19 month old son when he simply stopped breathing. This is our fist Holiday without him. I intend to read this entire post to my family at Thanksgiving. You have reached the hearts of many, many people with this post, and I give thanks to God that I have the privilege of knowing you. We share your grief for Olga. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercies of God rest in peace.
stephen
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Fran, that chair remains empty not matter now many years and yet the chair is filled with love and memories of a life well lived.
Thanks for posting this, Fran. The chairs will remain empty as long as there are chairs around the table. There will come a time when they will be filled again. My prayers for all who grieve and who face one of the toughest times of the year. Dcn. Jim
Thank you all for the comments – we all know the pain of loss and holidays are hard. Thank you for the prayers and for walking in community together – that is a gift.