There is nothing so hard in this life than saying goodbye to someone we love. Our hearts ache with the loss of their presence in our lives, and we wonder if we will ever feel whole again. We feel as though our souls have been stripped bare, and every small emotion is felt a thousand-fold.

Today, my family is laying my beloved Nan to rest.

She was 88 years old, and after several long and painful years, lost her battle to the cruel affliction that is dementia. I think in a way, many of us are relieved that her suffering has come to an end. It has been torture to watch this once bright, shinning star slowly dim and lose her sparkle. My grandmother was an incredibly head-strong woman, who devoted her life to helping others, but towards the end, she was the one needed help and support from those around her. The woman we all knew and loved dearly has been gone for a while now, all that remained was the vessel for her once brilliant soul.

Almost as painful as the loss of such an amazing woman is the fact that I cannot be there in person to bid her farewell. Fortunately, my brother has very generously offered to read a poem I wrote at the service, so even though I cannot be there in person, hopefully my words can still offer comfort to my family.

Moon Song

The moon grew old and bowed her head,
For the last of her children now lay dead.
Bright and strong she had once shone in the night,
Guiding lost souls with her glorious light.
In grief and sorrow she stood alone,
In the empty space that had once been home.
A thousand tears she wept into the black,
For the sons and daughters that would never come back.
Each one fell from her eye with a gleam,
To sparkle and shine as brilliant as a dream.
Across the night sky they glittered so bright,
Those shimmering sorrows given leave to take flight.
They soared and danced through heaven and cloud,
And the moon looked on, loving and proud.
These beautiful stars born of grief and sorrow,
Shall forever herald the dawn of a bright tomorrow.

I love you, Nan. My world will always be a little darker without you in it to light the way.