The death of my best friend six months ago is still heavy on my heart.  Then, in my reading yesterday, I found this Scripture.  It really makes sense to me when I think about how much God loves us for our entire lives here on earth.  He cares when we die, and I think that is because He knows that we are leaving loved ones behind to grieve.  My husband is still meeting weekly with Bob, Heidi’s widower.  I always send Bob my love, but I haven’t gotten to the point where I can sit in a restaurant across from him without Heidi.  He is preparing their home to sell and planning to move to Alabama, so I know that I will have to cross that threshold soon.  I also know that God will be with me when it happens.  I certainly don’t want to sit and cry during the whole meal.  God meets me in my grief right where I am.  He is giving me new friends to talk to and relate with.  It’s hard not to compare them with Heidi, her big laughter and her smile that changed her whole face.  Nevertheless, I am comforted that one day I will see Heidi again and that God will rejoice at our reunion.  After all, He cares deeply for her and for me.  

In one of the last times that I saw Heidi, we talked about her flower garden.  She was sad that she didn’t get to go home and work in it and see the fruits of her labor.  I asked her what her favorite flower was and she told me a purple aster.  So, after she died, I asked my husband to please find some purple aster plants.  He found seeds for me and planted them in our front garden.  I didn’t know anything about the flower until I looked it up online.  It blooms in September, which was Heidi’s birth month.  Now, I am blessed with this sight out of all of my front windows and each time I get into my car to leave.  I know it is only an annual flower, so we will have to plant it again.  But this beautiful flower is a reminder to me of Heidi’s love for her life here on earth and how much she was loved by God.  He ended her suffering and took her to be with Him.  What a lovely thought to have to start my day!  If you have someone who passed away and you are remembering them, that is good.  It is helping you to heal from your grief and to come to terms with the fact that everyone will die one day.  And God cares!