“Time just slips way but where did it come from and where does it go?”
Annual Memorial Day weekend tradition always brings such sad reflection of long ago.
Not only the cemetery stops and standing at gravesites of loved ones gone to the greater beyond. More so are all of the other tombstone inscriptions of those who were friends or from prominent families.
Just yesterday it sometimes seems when a family member was at side and then gone forever. Only bits and pieces of memories, a few are vivid, mostly vague, much completely unknown.
Already four decades since Dad left the hayfield four dozen square bales for his son to put in the barn. It was such an easy expectation of a skinny wannabe cowboy after a day at an office job. Yet the procrastinator shrugged “not now they won’t get wet it’s not going to rain.”
Two days afterward beside his hospital deathbed still positive tone to voice: “Did you get the hay put away?” What seemed so insignificant minutes earlier all of a sudden was the most important thing in the world.
“No.” The hay bales were still in the field, but picked up in short order just four hours later. In ample time but too late for answering “Yes” in the last conversation with the world’s most important person.
Long gone by, the only child’s simple task undone remains forever uncontrollable haunt.
“I should have done that” comes to mind in a couple of other situations with deceased family members. Nothing to do now other than apologize in prayer hoping the dear one’s soul hears and forgives.
Even more importantly is make sure such simple expectation or request is granted now because tomorrow could be too late.
How little one knows of their heritage adds to sadness of the memorial decoration tradition. Upbringing of direct descendants is really often unknown yet would have been answered eagerly had questions been asked. Perhaps not such a big deal, one’s ancestry seems to become more significant in maturity.
Another generation away, namesake Grandpa gone long before Grandma insisted her first grandson bear his name. It’d be nice to know who he really was.
Apologies and answers to all are promised in life hereafter.
Reminded of Philippians 4:20: “God will take care of everything into eternity.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XIV–21–5-24-2020