Guiding Light

Oh how I wish I could talk to my Aunt Gen... she would know what to do.

Aunt Genevieve "Gen" was the youngest of my grandmother's 7 siblings. She was an absolute delight and full of light and love. When I was a teenager, I learned that Aunt Gen had lost an 8 year old daughter, Jean, to illness. I remember asking her if she was sad and she being very practical said she didn't have time to be, she had 7 other children who needed their mother.....her reason to live showed itself instantly.

Over the next 6 decades she continued to give her love freely even as she buried her parents, 7 siblings, her husband of 53 years, another daughter and her great grandson Ethan. Right up to the time of her death a year ago at age 94, she had Jean's picture next to her favorite chair. While she never forgot her sweet daughter she was able to continue living and loving so purely that she was greatly mourned by all of us including her 24 grandchildren and 43 greatgrandchildren.

If she had given up on living when Jean left this earth she would have never seen the blessings God had in store for her. Wondering if I should follow her lead?

Oh how I wish I could talk to her one more time, to find out what was her secret to living, but she doesn't have time for me. I try to be practical and understanding, realizing that she can't help me here on earth because she is holding my Joshua in her gentle embrace, and frankly I am a bit envious of both of them.

There are times when I would love nothing more than to be with them, but I know there is a plan for me and while it may not show itself today, or I may never know exactly what it is, I will keep doing what I'm doing until the day comes that someone in my family can tell the story of "Aunt Sherri who was an absolute delight and full of light and love. Right up to the time of her death, she had Joshua's picture next to her favorite chair. She never forgot her sweet boy. She also was greatly mourned by all of us including her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren."

Thank you Aunt Gen for your love and guidance. You are loved and you are dearly missed.