Parents don't worry about your children when the adversity of life slaps them hard in the
face, because it makes them better people.
They are resilient. And they come back stronger than they were, more
mature, and better adjusted to face what their life has in store for them.
I watch my
children grow in faith and love and inspiration because their sister died. I am
so proud of the people that they are, and the fact that they chose to make
their sisters memory a positive instrument in their life. Its become an inspiration to them to be
better, more real people, instead of an
excuse to be selfish in their thoughts and actions.
We are all so blessed to have been Laurens family. We are
left with her beautiful legacy and wonderful memories, and the sound of her
laughter ringing in our ears, and imprinted on our hearts.
Through her death, my children have learned to live life
everyday, and to say things to people when they have the chance. They have
learned to trust in God and to turn to Jesus and the Blessed Mother for help
and guidance. They have learned that material things are left behind when it's
your time to go. They have learned that the true treasures in life are God and
family.
I reflect on what this all means to their young lives. At first, I was angry. I felt like they had been cheated out of part of their innocent and beautiful childhood. I felt like they didn't deserve the burden of losing Lauren. I wondered how they could cope with such loss, and not have their lives destroyed.
To my amazement, they have adjusted better than I could
have hoped. They are effected by it, and always will be. But the effect is
beautiful to my eyes. I see them persevering through their pain, and mine. They
keep going through life, and they keep believing in God, Lauren, themselves,
and Terry and me.
So today, I believe that they have successfully turned
their burden into a blessing, and it is inspiring for me to do the same. I have
learned that children take life in stride, with no preconceived notions of how
it is supposed to be. They just take it like it comes, and move forward, if we
let them. We, as parents, and adults, are the ones with all the ideas of what
life is supposed to be. When something tragic happens in a child's life, we feel bad, or even responsible, to make up
for it in some way. But we can't. Life is not perfect, and the sooner we let
them realize it, the better. They are
naturally resilient, and adaptable, and their journey is theirs. We cant
choose their path, or protect them from the pain that life brings sometimes.
All we can do is teach by example. Show them how to share
Gods love with the world by doing it ourselves. Teach them humility, and love them. Let them
face life's adversities, and remain a spectator. Don't shield them from the
pain of life, or try to take it away from them. Just be there to hold them, and
help them pick up the pieces when they can't do it for themselves. The
beautiful reward is the blessing a parent receives when their child perseveres
in the face of adversity, and on their own,
they come out on the other side a better person.
Tara Rodney
10/23/10