Poem –  When Death Comes, Mary Oliver

 

My mother did not simply visit this world.  Rather, she completely engaged, and in doing so, modeled priceless lessons:

That the most important truth about God – about our Universe – is that Love is universal, and surrounds us always. That being in nature, surrounded by trees, plants, water, birds, flowers, is the best way to experience Love. That Love is unconditional, and embraces every human being – no matter what. That how we are similar is infinitely more important than how we are different. That patience, and the capacity to find joy in the grimmest situations, exceeds all other virtues. That music truly does heal the spirit.

My mother lived with amazement at the smallest and largest of God’s creation. She embraced the world in her arms and lived fully.

That is her legacy to each of us – those connected by blood and those whose lives she touched – embraced – in myriad and unnamable ways.

And in those she touched, the legacy – the Love – continues.

 

In closing, a message from one of her granddaughters, Kelly Harrington:

            “The memory that stands out strongest in my mind is of the visits she made to our home in the last few years.  She always brought with her a special photo album of all of our family members, and would tell of the stories and latest happenings of each person.  While I enjoyed the stories she would share, the most special part was seeing her enjoyment in getting to recall times with family.  She loved her family very much and treasured time with each of us.  That is a quality I want to imitate.