A Time to Mourn

So we begin 2013 with a sorrow. My husband's mom, my mother-in-law, my children's grandma lost her eight month battle with lymphoma and won her crown of eternal life on January 18. I really don't have the words to express the depth of our sadness, but I know that it is surrounded by the hope that comes in knowing Jesus Christ and the promise of the resurrection.

I grieve for my own loss of course. My mother-in-law embraced me as her own daughter, and I treasured our relationship. I knew how blessed I was (and still am). I grieve for my husband's loss as he and his mom were close. He spoke to her on the phone almost every day. But I mostly grieve for my children because they will have few, if any, memories of her. She adored them. She loved spending time with them and they loved her too. In fact, Micah referred to her as his other mom for a time. I hate that they will grow up without her around to love on them.

I feel like I should have some great summation statement here, but I don't. The words and promises of Scripture have been comforting; as have the words and care of friends and family. But there will forever be a hole in our lives where she was. This year promises to be bittersweet.