I saw a man tending to his wife’s freshly dug grave this morning. It was covered in Christmas wreaths…small trees with bright red bows…and a few floral arrangements that blew over from the sharp Wisconsin winds.
He came to grieve…but the weather strewn ornamentation’s created a task that needed to be addressed first. He went straight to work righting everything into an orderly layout that was worthy of a loving Christmas send off. He stood back…satisfied. Then hung his head and cried the way a man does sometimes.
This time of year has a certain sting to it when people and situations we once knew are gone. I know nothing specific about the grave tending man’s story…but I can tell you from both experience and observation that he is hollow at this “…most wonderful time of the year.” It sucks…and I can say with some confidence that this is going to be a very shitty Christmas for him.
Out of Great Sorrow…Comes Great Joy
A few weeks ago my son asked me why so many Holiday movies are about families where the mom dies. I told him that people like sad stories as long as it’s not them. ”I guess when it’s over it makes people breathe a sigh of relief and feel lucky for what they have” I said. He nodded his head and replied, “I still don’t like them.” Fair enough.
I’ve been in that movie as most of you know. I know that sad story. I know that man from the graveyard. I’m also a movie-goer at this point…watching people like the Christmas Grave Tender and feeling thankful that this year it isn’t me. As cold as this may sound…his sadness reminded me of all I have to be thankful for.*
Out of great sadness…came joy. I’m not sure how I feel about that yet.
