I was reminded this morning of one of my favorite quotes.
God gives us memories so that we might have roses in December. ~ James Barrie ~After Charlie died, my dear friend from college, Laura sent me a book that helped her through the loss of her first son in 1999. Laura’s story is a beautiful one that include love, loss, survival, perseverance and selflessness. The book is Roses in December by Marilyn Willett Heavilin.
I wasn’t too sure about the book when I first started reading it. Marilyn had lost three sons. Her first son died at 7 weeks old. Her second son died two years later from pneumonia and left his twin to survive him. At 17 years old, the surviving twin died tragically by a drunk driver. How much could one woman take? I thought for sure this book wasn’t for me. I couldn’t identify with THAT MUCH loss. But I found myself sucked in. I couldn’t stop reading. I read this book four times. FOUR TIMES. It touched me that much.
She shares in the book the many ways that even in the winters of our lives, our darkest moments, God gives us signs or Roses, to remind us of our loved ones. These Roses give us comfort, strength, even joy when we allow ourselves to see them.
Charlie died in June of 2003. It was a long summer and fall. And then it was winter. It got dark early. People continued to go on with their lives, decorate for Christmas, go see Santa, deck the halls and experience joy. We did not. That year we decided not to get a tree. But the closer it got, the more we realized we needed to try to force ourselves.
We bought a tree. We put it in a stand in the corner of our house and left it. For four weeks it didn’t get lights, ornaments or even water. What was the point?
Our tree got crispy. Even though it was technically already dead when we bought it because it had been stripped of its life support that we call roots, we let it die even more.
It just stood there. Mocking us.
Laughing at us that we didn’t have our son to put under the tree for a picture. Giggling that we wouldn’t get to be Santa for our baby who would have no idea what was going on.
Christmas was going to come whether we wanted to stop it or not.
Christmas Eve we left home to go to my Grannie’s house. We didn’t want to go. It would have been much more preferable to stay in bed or in front of the TV with the dead tree mocking us. It was going to be painful. I actually saw a picture from that night recently and hardly recognized myself. I was so sad. And broken.
But as we left our house that day, I was greeted on the porch by a Rose. For most people, their Rose would be a smell, a sight, a place… but no. Mine was a real Rose. On a rosebush in a container that my former teacher gave me after Charlie died. It had turned brown from lack of care, because I didn’t care, and was surely near death.
But this is the sight I saw when I walked out onto my porch on the way to what was supposed to be a happy event:
I wish I were kidding but I’m not. Overnight, in 40 degree weather, my rosebush perked up and BLOOMED. I’d say it was a miracle, and it possibly was. But I KNOW it was my Charlie… telling me that he was OK and that it was his wish that I pick myself up and leave the house to be with my family.
I continue to have Roses. Seven years later, they still show up every now and then.
This week, in our small town, three lives have been lost unexpectedly. Three friends buried relatives too soon. I pray that they all find those Roses because those are the moments that will carry them through the winters of life.
13 Comments
Kristin
Thank you for sharing this, Jana. My hugs, love, and prayers are with you and your friends at this difficult time.
Jana A
Thank you Kristin.
Allie Gresham
Did you have to make me cry before it was even 10 am!!!!! Love you girl. That was a beautiful post and now I am gonna have to read the book. Thank you for sharing!
Jana A
Whoopsie! Sorry bout that. I don’t have the book here. It’s in storage. Otherwise I’d let you borrow it. It’s great. xoxo
hannah @ peggy ann design
damn woman. just. damn.
Rusty’s sister (Angie) died when we were in high school from a brain tumor. We were 15, she was 22. I didn’t know her, and Rusty & I weren’t friends at the time. We just went to school together. Fast forward 8 years.
January 2008 – I start grad school @ Auburn, Rusty gets stationed in Auburn. He saw via fb that I was there, asked if we could hang out cause neither of us knew anyone there. we talk for weeks, hang out for a few weeks more.
First Date = April 19.
Day we got engaged: June 19.
We got married, & I was struggling to find a job. We desperately needed the money. I applied for a random job on April 19. I got a call back on May 19. My first day was June 19.
Angie’s Birthday = April 19
Day Angie Died = June 19
So i guess what I’m saying is I get the roses too.
love you.
Jana A
You’e got the roses 🙂 Angie’s birthday is the same as my niece. I will always remember her now!
xoxo
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molly
What a wonderful post. You are such an inspiration for positivity. I truly believe there are signs everywhere from our loved ones who have passed.
Part III of my story will talk a lot about this. It’s coming next week 😉
Jana A
I can’t wAit for the next part. (((hugs)))
Leah
Oh Jana, what a beautiful, beautiful post. You are so brave and positive and I’m so happy to have ‘met’ you. i hope to give you a big hug in person one day!
Jana A
Thank you my dear SisterBitch 🙂 Where have you been, by the way?
amourningmom
I will look for the roses and that book. Thank you for sharing. Take care.
Jana A
I’m so glad! You’ll find them everywhere!