If there is one topic that I think we try to avoid, it is death.

When Daddy passed away in 2021, it taught me many things about love, living, grief, forgiveness, healing, letting go, slowing down and many other things that we would normally take for granted. Things that we set aside for later days.

Several days ago, my mother-in-law (my mother away from home) passed away unexpectedly and again I am reminded of the same things that I’ve learned when Daddy joined our creator.

There is a famous Filipino tagline about fathers being the “haligi ng tahanan” (pillar of the home) and the mothers being the “ilaw ng tahanan” (light of the home).

I’ve learned that death, specifically that of a parent/s has a way of bringing the good and the best among us. With the good comes also, the worst and the bad. It can bring the family closer or the absence can make it fall apart.  

For those left behind, death is a process. There’s accepting, grieving, cutting ties, moving on and letting go.

But in the midst of all of these, healing couldn’t be far behind…

In the end, we all learn that loss of any kind changes us. How, is all up to us.

Until next time,

P.S.

In my daughter’s reflection for her grandma’s funeral. She said:

“I’ve lived right down the road from grandma my whole life. It’s easy to take that for granted…”

Don’t take anyone and anything for granted. It’s a gift not given to many.