Wow!! I am amazed at the impact of my simple little book “Balloon in a Box, Coping with Grief” where all I did was share my thoughts and experiences of the grief I felt and feel after the death of my wife. To all of you who have read my book I thank you for all of the compliments and by helping me to fulfill the three needs of the griever, “To find the words for the loss, to say the words and to know the the words have been heard.”
Yes I have received some very nice and glowing compliments. I had said in my book that if I helped one person it was a success. Well today I believe I received the best compliment of all. I just hung up from talking to a young man, 21 years old. He called and said he had asked his mother how you knew when you were in love. She answered by giving him my book to read telling him it would help him understand what love was all about. After reading the book he told her he wanted to talk with me and she said to call me.
I have never met this young man and just barely know his mother. He said, “thank you Mr. Rose for writing the book it has helped my mother with her grief and has helped me understand a little bit about love but I'm sure I have a lot more to learn. How will I know it is love?” I told him,”When you dance with her and/or hold her close you will feel her breath and feel every heartbeat like they are your own.”As I was saying this I was looking out the window and noticed some planting I had done. Two plants planted separately but now growing together as one plant. I pictured their roots now being entwined. I used this as a way for him understand love. I asked him if he was in love. He said he thought he was but wasn't sure that's why the questions. He said he was thinking about asking her to marry him. We talked a while longer and I shared with him that I thought I had been in love several times but only the one survived the test of time. He hung up thanking me for my time and advice. I wished him the best, told him that I wasn't sure anyone really understood love or had the answer to his question but hoped I had helped.
I guess my book is not only about grief but also love because “grief is love and love is grief” you can't have one without the other. My conversation with the young man has caused my balloon to bounce around in that box and touch 3 corners at the same time. (you need to read the book to understand) so I am experiencing a mix of emotions bringing a tear and a smile.
Life is just a bowl of cherries, some sweet and some sour......... Love can be either or both!
Comentarios