February 3, 2012

To Hold Them in My Hands

Everybody brings stuff.
He brings his,
she brings hers,
and together they build a relationship
that starts with the invisible elements
they each brought.

Some of the stuff is beautiful.
Skills and gifts
that help one to love well.
Laughter that is contagious.
Arms that are safe, strong, familiar.
Eyes that listen,
eyes that smile.

I want to hold them in my hands, let them slip through my fingers.

Some of the stuff is not as beautiful.
Scars that show,
scars that don't.
Wounds that are contagious.
Stories often kept quiet.
Secrets left hidden, shrouded in grey.

The beauty of all beauties is when the stuff is scattered.
A strong gust of wind,
a tornado of catastrophe,
or the decision to unlock the box.
When all of the stuff is there,
no longer hidden,
and when one can say to the other,
"You do not disgust me. I love you as I hold these ashes."

Cremation gives a heart nowhere to go.
There is no grave to visit, no tombstone to read.
He said, "Scatter them over my Rocky Mountains."
He actually felt a personal possession of this natural landmark.
I haven't scattered them yet.
That process will involve more than just me;
his ashes belong to more than just me.
For now, I have them.

I want to touch them.
I want to hold them in my hands,
let them slip through my fingers,
his dust.
To know how they feel,
to know what they leave behind.
To hold what once was mine.

To say, all over again,
"This does not disgust me.
I love you as I hold these ashes."

5 comments on “To Hold Them in My Hands”

  1. We will be spreading my brother's ashes this summer. I saved some of them to have made into jewelry. I know some people thing this odd, or morbid, but I will feel better knowing I will always have a part of him; that he won't be scattered in a place I may not be able to visit if the snow is too deep. Thank you for helping me to not feel strange about this. As always, my prayers are with you.

  2. My heart breaks for you all over again....this is a beautiful poem, and I want to frame it.

  3. Tricia, you have a remarkable way of being able to give even the most difficult of subjects such poignancy and beauty. Thank you once again for sharing the things that are deepest in your heart with us.

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU

NOW AVAILABLE
thisbookisforyouthumb

JUST. YOU. WAIT.

NOW AVAILABLE
Just-You-Wait-COVER-resized
#1 New Title on Amazon in Christian Inspiration

YOU CAN DO THIS

NOW AVAILABLE
you-can-do-this
#1 New Title on Amazon in Women's Issues!

LET'S PRETEND WE'RE NORMAL

NOW AVAILABLE
Lets-Pretend-Were-Normal
#1 Bestseller on Amazon in Single Parenting

AND LIFE COMES BACK

NOW AVAILABLE
and-life-comes-back
#1 in Denver Post: Nonfiction Paperback and Finalist for 2015 Christian Book Award
© 2015-2023 Tricia Lott Williford. All Rights Reserved. Site by Concept To Web.
crossmenu
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram
%d bloggers like this: