It’s funny how grief can sneak up on you like a cat preparing to pounce its prey. I am no expert on the why’s or how’s when it comes to managing grief, but I can say that I understand how shaken you can feel.
Bette Midler sings a beautiful song called “The Rose” which took me off guard in my thoughts one night. After a long night of tossing and turning thinking about the big day I had at work in the morning, I turned on my Pandora to listen to something more calming. After a few minutes, the song came on the radio. I have always loved that song and have even sung it in my youth many times. However, it was on this late, dark evening I finally understood the beautiful words and meaning of the song.
When I was younger, I thought it was a song comparing general love to feelings or other types of love or even what love is exactly. In truth, I never gave it much thought. However, listening to the words I realized that the song was about a true love, an unconditional love that supports, helps, inspires, and teaches another to push through life’s obstacles and to overcome, “the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.”
I think my favorite part of the song says, “Just remember, in the winter, far beneath the bitter snows lies the seed, that with the sun’s love in the spring becomes the rose.” Notice how it specifically points out, “with the sun’s love” the rose will be able to bloom and grow despite all the feelings and obstacles that little seed has to go through in order to bloom. I love that point! It reminded me of the kind of person I want to be, with an unconditional love for those around me to persevere, give hope, and help bloom into a beautiful flower.
In essence, my beloved Aunt lived this kind of love and life every day. I hope to follow in her footsteps and live each day to the best and be a positive influence on anyone in my life. Can you imagine if we all lived and loved in this way and the kind of place this world can be? I smile at that thought, that kind of world. What do you think?
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