Sunday, March 21, 2010

Circle of Life

Life is really amazing. I don't mean my life, but the theory of it. 10 days ago, my first little niece was born. 7 days ago, my amazing father in law finally passed from the cancer he has fought for 14 years. At one point, my husband was sitting in Ohio at hospice at his father's bedside, waiting for his last breath and I was sitting in a hospital in Boston waiting for my niece's first breath.

Losing my father in law is so bittersweet. I have been his cheerleader since the first day we met, riding in 3 Pan Mass Challenges in his honor and never treating him like a cancer patient, but as a hero, a father and a friend. But the last year has been a downward spiral for him and seeing him suffer so much has been so so sad and we just wanted him to find peace.

At his funeral this weekend, they asked me to do a reading. Specifically, Psalm 23. I had been doing so well until I got to the following lines:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me"

..and could barely get through it because I felt him next to me. But as I explained to my 4 and 6 year old..we have a new angel now, someone we can talk to anytime, pray to, or just know that he is watching over us..someone who is holding our hand all the time.

And now I have the best cheerleader of all.

Life is amazing.
Rock on,
Paula