Remembering Five Years Ago

It’s been five years since Elijah and Norah were taken to that Eternal Place.

I have all my pictures of them on Google Photos. Every now and then it will surface a picture collection of either of my kids. Each time I take a step back and look through them, I feel the pain and grief.

My pain has changed over the years. I believe the first 3 years I cried at least once a day. Nowadays it’s at least once a week. The pain is still there, it’s just been covered over by a layer of scar tissue. The wound is still tender underneath.

Grief is not something that heals. It’s like a broken bone: it will mend back together, but not in the same way. To this day when there is a change in the weather, I feel a deep discomfort in my ribs where they broke that night. A constant reminder of the violence my whole family experienced that night.

Last year the judge finally allowed the trial to commence. It was a grueling week for both families. I met the other witnesses who helped my family that night. We all had to testify against the young man in court. I found out more details of that night that were missing from my mind. I had to forgive that young man all over again. Even as I type this I find the pain surfacing again.

If you are a father or mother who has lost their child, all I can offer is my words of hope. Words given to me by another who promises we will see our children again. In that Eternal Place.

Love you Elijah. Love you Norah.