He won’t remember looking up at him from his hospital bassinet. He won’t remember seeing him proudly beam as I walked across the stage. He won’t remember seeing him pop into the camera when we FaceTimed my sister. He won’t remember, but we will never forget and we will do our best to make sure he knows what kind of person his ‘Pap Pap’ was.
As the anniversary of his death speeds uncomfortably close, I take solace in the fact that he lived a full and altruistic life. Always making sure others had, even when he had little to give. Always giving a smile and a helping hand while assuring everyone knew that things would work out. There was never a doubt on how deeply he loved his family, and that gives me comfort.
Grief has no expiration date. We all experience it differently, but we all feel it so deeply. If you have lost a loved one, and the tears sting the backs of your eyes as you do your best to relearn your place in this world without them here, know that you aren’t alone. Share a smile today and pay it forward. We don’t know the battles of those we encounter, so be kind, always.
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This piece originally appeared at stopyellingplease.com, published with permission.
