Processing

These past couple of weeks have given me a bit of a wallop.  I recognize this is what grieving is all about to feel disconnected with routines and plans.  But what really touches me is the kindness of others.   We have received many cards, notes and emails.  A friend brought soup and muffins over.  Hugs and tears have been shared.   And flowers have brightened up our lives, too.

 

 

 

 To all of you:  Thank You.

   Your kindnesses have mattered. 

 

 

It has been hard to write on this blog lately (I promise to be better) because it seems rather trivial just now.  But just this morning, I recieved this lovely poem from a very thoughtful person at my job and it was just the right inspiration to share with you here right now.

 

 

from Kindness by Naomi Shihab Nye

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and
purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.

from The Words Under the Words: Selected Poems

 
                                                        Today, practice kindness.