a day of love

I spent Valentine's day at a funeral
an elder of my extended family
My sister-in-law took care of her mother faithfully
for 4 1/2 years.. when she had been stricken down by a stroke
Love.
The service was held in a Lutheran church
all the trimmings, as they say
Comfort.
The trip to the cemetery was short
and the walk to the grave site short also
so many elderly who braved the snow and cold to say goodbye
Humbling.
The meal afterwards, the usual: beef, chicken,mostacolli,mashed potatoes/gravy
hot rolls,warm beef vegetable soup and salad
Filling
Watching my brothers, one who just had open heart surgery...
tired and weak, but there. The other, legally blind,sick with a very bad cold, but radiating
goodness.
Watching my mother, worrying about them
Familial
Sitting next to my husband, squeezing my hand under the table
knowing my very thoughts of fragility of life
each of us suffering our own heartache to come
Love

Our first breath we take in from God
our last breath we return to God

 These moments
 birth and death
They are written in the book