Healing takes time

It's been 5 years.  Tears have come today, but so has laughter and gratitude and love.  People say time heals, but when my sister left physically, I had someone hug me and say, "be patient with yourself, healing takes time."  And that, it does.

Life goes on and we find our way into our new "normal" - whatever that may be.  We go to school or work or group or church or whatever it is we do with our days, until it becomes routine again.  Until we can get up and function again.  Until we can appreciate the time we had with those who are not physically with us any longer.  

I know I'm not alone in this.  Healing does take time and with each day, a little more healing comes.  Sometimes it seems like great strides have been made and other days, a wave hits and I feel reeled back to that very moment when i got the call.  It's ok.  That's the thing I'm learning in this life.  All things take time.  Sadness will come, but so will happiness.  Anger will be present, but so will laughter and joy.  Frustration appears, but so can patience.  It's all a part of the process.

One of my sister's best childhood friends was married on this day in 1996.  She text me yesterday saying that she had not forgotten the sadness today could bring, but chose to remember the happiness and laughter we all had together on this day 24 years ago.  And that we did.  We both laughed again yesterday and I smile as I type remembering the  run to the store in order to get her some things to help with cramping and other issues she was having as nerves wrecked havoc on her body that morning.  It was a good day.

There were a lot of good days in the 44 years my sister was here.  There were other days too though and there have been a lot of good days since.  There will be more good days to come.

But (and thankfully) the healing continues.