Tuesday, August 5, 2008

A Phoenix Rises from the Ashes

My father was niftar on Shabbos afternoon, Rosh Chodesh Av - seven years ago.
I remember vividly walking home from the hospital in utter desolation after his petirah, feeling like my world was so very dark, that I would never learn another thing ever again --- how would I smile and laugh again?
How I wish somebody could have come up to me at that very moment and taken me by my shoulders, looked in to my eyes and said..... "SEVEN YEARS FROM THIS VERY DAY you will be sitting at your Shabbos table, surrounded by your entire family, which will include a new son in law, a new daughter in law and you will be cradling your brand new granddaughter in your arms on her very first Shabbos, as everyone at the table sings zemiros and learns in your father's memory. Your granddaughter will be given her Jewish name on this very day seven years from now. Today you are saying, 'does it get any worse than this?' - - seven years from now you will be saying, 'does it get any better than this?'
There are no coincidences in our world.

6 comments:

Leora said...

Your post is bringing bits of tears to my eyes. How wonderful to appreciate your current family. How your father z"l must be smiling down on you all and enjoying, too.

Juggling Frogs said...

This post should be placed in a dictionary, as the explanation of the meaning of the term "may his memory be for a blessing".

This brought tears to (and from) my eyes.

May your father's memory continue to be a blessing.

RivkA with a capital A said...

powerful! may you know only simchas and nachas from your family!

RivkA with a capital A said...

ps. came to your blog via Leora from Highland Park

Author said...

This post made me weep - but I celebrate your joy too.

My own father died in January 2006 and the pain of loss is still raw. So I understand.

Jewish Side of Babysitter said...

Truly inspirational.