G
ive me your best five minutes on life five years ago . . . (Gypsy Mama)
GO . . .
I cringed when I first read this. I know where we were five years ago. We had just gotten through the first year after our 16 year old son’s death. We were still in the midst of the deep grief. I couldn’t remember the best times, until I went back in my blog and saw that healing was starting. This entry from March 25, 2006 made me smile, because I had forgotten.
I had finally given myself permission to make a meal that Matthew would never eat – Manwich sandwiches. He hated Manwich. So we made “Me-Ma Joes” (his nickname was “Me-Ma” – a name his older brother gave him when he could not pronounce his name) – mainly brown sugar and ketchup. I loved Manwich growing up, so it was more a comfort food for me – and I made it, with a twinge of guilt, and a moving on.
My husband was playing the piano that night too . . . something he did not do much during that first year. I read here where I wrote about one of our daughter’s making a lemon meringue pie and moving furniture around, just to make changes and newness.
As I looked through the posts of early 2006, there was still a lot of grief heartache, still getting through so much, but I can see the journey of healing, and how God carried us. The sting of death still stabs at us at unexpected times, yet I know without a doubt His mercies and grace continue to be renewed each day.
My five minutes are almost up but I am thinking of a woman I just met a few weeks ago at the Carol Kent DVD filming I attended. Last week she lost her husband of 31 years very unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism. As you finish reading this, would you please whisper a prayer for Mary Jo as she begins the “firsts” of this grief journey?
STOP . . .
Writing Canvas 
Such a moving post – thank you for your beautiful words!
Cxx
Hi Loni, I am so sorry for your loss. And yet, reading this, I can see how God has upheld you and strengthened you through it. All glory to Him.
interesting correlation – mary-jo/lisa-jo.
I am recovering form my grandmother’s death and cannot imagine how you’ve managed. Blessing as you continue to find His dreams for your life!
LIB
http://bit.ly/egasHP
Thank you for sharing! Blessings! I’ve been doing Grief Share at our church and I thank you for your candid 5 minutes.
Precious words.. healing and change…Thank the Lord for His Mercies are new every day! Your post is true testimony to that.
Enjoyed stopping here today. Hope to visit again, when I have more than 5 minutes to visit every blog. (grin)
Blessings,
September
Wow, I’ll always think of you and your family every time we have Manwiches now. :o) Thanks for sharing such a touching memory!
Wow. Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your life 5 years ago. This is my first time here via The Gypsy Mama’s blog. (And by the way, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Manwiches)
My heart goes out to you. May God bless your friend Mary Jo as she begins her journey through this time of deep grief. Thank you for sharing.
mmmm thank you for sharing those vulnerable parts. praying praying!
OH! Wow! I wish I had the right words….sending HUGS and LOVE from afar.
Praying for Mary Jo now….
Wow. Beautiful post.
it’s hard to even imagine such depths of grief. thank you for this glimpse, too, of mercies new every morning. such a testimony.
I am very sad for your loss. I hope others can inform their children.
The term, however, is “choking/asphyxiation.”