Reflections on Good Friday

It's Good Friday, and I'm thinking of what happened on this day. I'm thinking about death and what it brings into our life - sadness, grief, worry, emptiness.

When my Mama D died - a woman who was like a second-mother to me - I remember feeling this tremendous void. I realized that I couldn't call her anymore. I couldn't pick up the phone and hear her voice. She would never again say those encouraging words when something was going wrong for me. I couldn't feel her arms around me or see her face brighten up when my daughter walked into the room. I realized that she would never see me get married, have another child, or do all of the things I told her I wanted to do with my life.

Death is something I don't think we'll ever understand. It is an ever-present reminder that life is precious, and that we can't take one second of it for granted.

But on this day, I'm also reminded that in just a couple of days, we will celebrate Jesus' rise from death. This is something to look forward to. This is hope. And so even in death, there is hope. There is hope that some good will come of this passing or hope that this person is watching over us or hope that somehow we will carry on that person's legacy. Even in the worst moments - in the intense emotions of losing someone - there is always hope.

I miss Mama D dearly, but I know that she's proud of me. I know she is in a better place, and she isn't suffering anymore. That gives me so much hope for the future. Hope that I can pass on just a small fragment of what she gave me to others.

On this Good Friday, be reminded that there is always hope.

Happy Easter.

xoxo,

Nicole