As our baby girl(she’s the 8th of 8) heard her name announced, #5 ran onto the field for her final college lacrosse game. She completed her personal ritual for the last time. Hand over heart for the National Anthem, Prayer, then a conversation with Josiah.
As she joked about him having the “best seat in the house ” for her games, she looked up to discover an Angel shaped cloud slowly drifting by. It’s almost as if she could hear Josiah saying, “Gather ’round guys! I’ve got the popcorn and we’re going to watch my baby sister give it everything she’s got!”
I can even imagine him laughing, saying, “She’s gets that tenacity from me!” Of all days to have a God Hug, He knew she needed one right then, at that particular moment.
Our softball catcher arrived at college 4 years ago for academics, with the dream of being a homicide detective, because, “Mom, I know what it’s like to lose someone you love, so if I can bring help to another family, that’s my purpose.”
Jumping right into her studies, she was ok without athletics….until…she saw girls throwing a little ball back and forth with a stick that had a net on the end. With an “I think I’ll learn this game.” lacrosse was added to our vocabulary, and has joyfully occupied our last 4 Springs.
“Mom, everything I do on that field is to make him proud!” He knows and he is.
That becomes your family mantra when you have a loved one waiting on you in Heaven.
College had it’s challenges. Careers have their difficulties. Friendships that you thought would last forever abruptly turn into seasonal ones. Life is filled with bumps, bruises, and butt kicks.
As we experience the good, the bad, and the ugly, we can also persevere to replicate the characteristics of what we look up to in someone else. Especially the one’s who aren’t here.
Here are just a few that we strive for.
Love Big
Josiah loved BIG! We’ve learned that from him. He gave it his 100%. Sometimes loving big doesn’t always get reciprocated by the person you’re bestowing that action upon, but at the end of the day, you know what’s in YOUR heart and have no regrets.
Be Generous
Josiah was fiercely loyal to his friends and family. If there was a need, he did everything possible to meet that for you. A few months after Josiah went to Heaven, a package arrived one day with the message that read, “Josiah gave me this jacket, but I thought you may want it back.”
Be An Encouragement
Without a doubt, Josiah had the best handwriting of all the children. It was very common for him to leave sweet notes and cards to all of us telling us that he loved us and reminding us that “You can do this!” I treasure those now as I get them out every now and then and just hold them, knowing that he touched those. It brings me comfort.
Now, lest you think I’m trying to sugarcoat things, I will be the first to tell you that Josiah gave me some sleepless nights and trying days. He wasn’t perfect, but neither are we.
Do thoughtful deeds for others.
Our goal now is to focus on what we learned from him and do it repeatedly.
That makes him proud.
My Prayer For You
“Lord, help us to carry on the good that our son’s and daughter’s began, making them proud. Give us the strength to fulfil that purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen