When Gigi of the blog Magpie Fancy asked me to join her Legacy series, my first thought was..........me? I write about giving and gifting, how on earth could I contribute to such a thoughtful and worthy subject.? It has been a pleasure to read the contributions to Gigi's Legacy series, each post so heartwarming and unique. Behind each woman who blogs are many layers we might not always think is there. But each of us has a story to tell and in the telling, hopefully our words and experiences will reach out and touch some one else. I hope you will visit The Magpie Fancy today and read my shared legacy and in doing so I hope it will help someone, someday. My heartfelt thanks to Gigi for including me in this remarkable series and to the many readers who showed such compassion and understanding with their beautiful comments on both blogs.
Many thanks to The Prairie Girl for the use of her image.
Oh Sande, I just read your post and it brought tears to my eyes. I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful sister. I hope she is at peace, and I do so admire your strength in not only carrying on in the face of such a devastating loss, but in proudly saying her name and encouraging others at the same time. I always knew you were something special, but this ... oh this was so much more than that. Bless your sweet heart for reaching out to others. Thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteAn incredible post Sande....I was so touched, I am still teary just thinking on your words. I hear you so well.....much love xxxv
ReplyDeleteSande my dear friend. Oh the way you write words from your heart, well my dear you have a hidden talent that has come to life. I left you a message over at Gigi's blog. Much admiration, Kathysue
ReplyDeleteDearest Sande,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this with others!
Please read my comment at The Magpie Fancy...
Have a great weekend!
MariettesBacktoBasics
Sande, What a touching and beautiful post! How difficult it must have been for you to put your thoughts, feelings and sentiment into your writing--but you were able to do so beautifully and tenderly. You are a very special person indeed. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI just came from the post about your sister Lynne; I have been a Follower of your blog for some time now and was pleased when I saw you would be guest-posting in the Legacy series. I had no idea, no expectation, your post would stem from something that must have been so deeply painful.
ReplyDeleteHow does one ever reconcile the devastation a loved one feels with our unawareness of it? I think it is only in silence that the secrets can exist; maintaining that silence will only keep the mantle of "shame" present. Mental illness is not shameful, and as it has no physical presentation, we must talk about it to create awareness.
But silence in death is lonely, regardless of how the death occurred.
A friend who lost a son at 18 to a tragic accident said that it is a great sadness to her that people are reluctant to mention him, especially by name. They dodge it, thinking speaking of him will only make her sad. She is so bemused by that " Do they not think I will be sad for him whether they mention him or not? Don't they understand that I think of him all the time and that knowing someone else thinks of him too gives me comfort? Lets me know that yes, he lived, he was known and he was loved?"
Keep saying her name. And perhaps eventually the others will join you.
Sande-
ReplyDeleteI just read your amazing legacy post - and I want you to know that it is an amazing view into the life and heartache of those left behind when such a tragedy occurs. You wrote as though you were speaking from your soul - and I know that you were. I am touched by your words and I just want you to know that you have most assuredly probably changed someone's life by such a wonderful post.
Vicki
Sande that was so moving and so very courageous of you. It is difficult to talk about, but we need to very much, as you said....thank you.
ReplyDeletemuch love,DJ
Dear Sande - thank you for finding the courage to share your testimony of love, loss and reaching out to others to help in their journey. I have a dear friend that will also be touched and encouraged to read your post. Much love to you, Joy
ReplyDeleteYours was one of the first blogs I discovered almost a year ago when I first entered the realm of blogland and I have been following it ever since. I have drooled over so many of the things you have shared! How excited I was to see you leave a comment on my blog the other day and then again today. You made my day! I am off to read your guest post now!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful and courageous post, I have left a comment at The Magpie's Fancy. Wishing you a good week, Love from London xo
ReplyDeleteOh, I cannot wait to read your post—off now! hope your week is off to a lovely start, Sandi...
ReplyDeletexoxo
oh how beautiful, Sande... I actually had to come back to leave another comment for you after reading your guest post. *blink blink* you are such a wonderful person and I am happy to know you :)
ReplyDeleteSande,
ReplyDeleteI left a message on the other blog, but want to say here that we who have lost family and friends too early, or by their own choice, understand your deep pain. Their legacy unfairly becomes their illness or how they closed their lives. Let us help them reclaim their true legacy of who they were when they lived, not how they lived or how long.
I recently helped reclaim the legacy of a family member who was "mentally ill and passed in great pain." Replacing those words with a legacy of "generous, kind-hearted and creative" has helped to heal both her and those of us who knew her.