bwisegardening

Cultivating a Culture of Gardening™

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Grief Is A River

Grief is a river that now wanders through my life. Flowing from a white-capped mountain’s loss it can seem a gentle stream that belies swift currents building as the river takes its form.





Grief is a river fed from the streams of memories that lay hidden beneath the surface, feeding into the flow at its appointed time. Sometimes a trickle of laughter-filled reflections or at times a torrent of tender tears rush to fill that river that winds its way through my days and nights.
Grief is a river whose eddies hold moments both fearsome and restful, waterfalls of emotions, meandering miles of reflection.
Grief is a river that needs to flow. Holding the river back, I can create what seems a peaceful respite.  Then a storm rages, the banks overflow, and grief pours uncontrollably through unguarded recesses of my heart.  Grief is a river that needs to flow – to tumble and purify over the rocky places; to seep into dry, barren places where love was forgotten, where forgiveness is needed; sediment memories transforming to silt as the river moves its way down to the estuary.


 

Grief, though fed with ever-pouring tributaries of life’s history, is a river that has its destination. The river heads relentlessly toward release.


Grief is a river that marks and maps my life yet in its movement renews and changes the landscape of my heart.








Grief is a river that needs to flow.










 In memory of Ann Hutchison Peake










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7 Comments:

At January 21, 2015 at 6:30 AM , Blogger Susan Tomlinson said...

Beautiful.

 
At January 22, 2015 at 6:41 AM , Blogger Helen said...

Beautiful and true.

 
At January 22, 2015 at 8:10 AM , Blogger growingagardenindavis said...

Beautiful photos and description of grief. It brought back memories. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

 
At January 22, 2015 at 12:21 PM , Anonymous Jenny Peterson said...

Oh Barbara, I am so sorry for the loss of your mama. Your post was so beautiful.

 
At January 22, 2015 at 9:44 PM , Blogger barbara wise said...

Thank-you Susan, Helen, Leslie, and Jenny for your sweet notes here. In our world where grief can be so invisible - no black armbands or black veils to signify to random folks why tears can be so close to the surface, or not to mistake somberness for rudeness - writing this was cathartic. Thank-you for being a listening ear to my heart song!

 
At January 23, 2015 at 5:14 AM , Blogger Casa Mariposa said...

This river is wide and long and will flow for years before you find its end. Cry when you need to cry with no explanations or apologies. I am so sorry you are having to experience this.

 
At January 23, 2015 at 9:36 PM , Blogger barbara wise said...

Tammy, those are good words to remember my friend. Thank you!

 

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