Today was a very sad day. In fact, this whole week has had a sad undercurrent to it. One of my closest friends loss her mom earlier this week unexpectedly. Needless to say she isn't taken this tragic event well. I was in shock when I first heard her mom had died.
Although, I had only met her mom a few times, the times that I met her she left a lasting impression on me. She was beautiful and had such a glow and lovely personality. The times I can remember being around her, I always see her smiling. And she was so talented when it came to making cakes. In fact, I was going to ask her to make a Princess Tiana cake for Moo's birthday.
I know she was a great mom because my friend talked so much about her parents and how loving they were. Plus, I saw first hand how much they adored their children and grandchildren. During my friend's son's first birthday, I would see her parents glancing her interacting with her son. The look in their eyes was pure pride and love as if they were saying "We did well." At the end of the day that's what every parent wants to be able to say about their parenting skills.
Seeing my friend so distraught over the loss of her mom just tugged at my heart strings even more. To see such a person who I know as being strong, tough and doesn't take shit from anybody in such a fragile state made me tear up. Today, as I offered my friend words of comfort, I wished I could take half of her pain away. Even as I type this I'm tearing up. She was so drained and exhausted. I can hear the sound of cry and almost childlike voice as she tried to hold it together.
I've been to my share of funerals and memorial services but it's something different when you see your friend grieving so hard and you know the one thing/person that can heal them is never coming back. I can only pray that God will be a fence around her and her family. That He will protect them from further hurt and pain and comfort them in a way that I can't.
Have you ever had a friend grieve the loss of a parent or spouse? How did you try to help them get through it?
