As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. -- Isaiah 55:10-11

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Walking Through Hell

Yesterday it became obvious. I am taking another trip through emotional hell. I love those. Not.

Yesterday I paid off the house. It is a good thing, a glorious thing, and Rob made sure I had the money from his life insurance to do that. However, I kept thinking of how we were going to do this together, and then we would travel, take pictures, and enjoy the rest of life. I almost didn't make it through the 30 minutes it took to finish the paperwork and wire the money. I was sobbing by the time I reached the van. I just sat there, with my head on the wheel, and cried.

Tonight the children and I are walking at Relay for Life. Our team is special this year. Everyone is either a cancer survivor or caregiver. It is a special team to be on. It is also hard. I miss my mom.

Tomorrow is our delayed family Easter dinner. I usually love these things because I have an incredibly cool family, but this year my thoughts and heart are heavy. Last year I knew Rob and I were coming apart, and I was at a loss of what to try now. Rob went to the dinner with us and pretty much isolated himself. He didn't want to play games. He didn't go outside with us for the Easter egg hunt. We have family pictures from last year with everyone in them...but him. I remember seeing him sitting in one of the stadium seats in the theatre room. That is the only place I remember seeing him last year. Will he still be sitting there when I walk in tomorrow?

This week is Anna's birthday. Yesterday I met one of Rob's friends--one of our family's friends--to order Anna's gift. Rob had it on his list on his computer. As dumb as it sounds, I can't bring myself to erase it. Anna is sort of dreading her birthday because Rob isn't here. I totally understand.

Next Sunday is Mother's Day. Not only do I have no one to buy a card for, but there is no one to take my children to buy a card or gift for me either, and they love to do that. The last text I have from Rob on my phone was sent the evening before he died in the night. It says, "Thank you for being such a great mom for our kids." It's my pleasure, Rob.

And my tears fell fat and hot yesterday, and they fall even as I type.

It is a very rare thing for me to want to drink myself into a place of oblivion to silence the noise of the last year or its effects right now, but yesterday was a rare day, and it is seeping into today.

However, instead of succumbing, I worked out yesterday morning, mowed a yard, walked nearly an hour last night, and spent time with my children. Today I will mow my yard, buy a new fridge since mine went out Monday and is not worthy of repair, and I'll reread the speeches I gave the last two years at Relay and the thoughts I jotted down in case I was asked to speak again this year and remember why I walk. And I will pack water bottles and snacks, put on my good walking shoes, and head to the track where hundreds are gathering to honor the lives of those they love--to mourn the ones lost, to encourage the ones still walking, to stare death in the face and declare, "I still believe in life."

And I do.

So I choose to keep walking.

8 comments:

GrammaGrits said...

What words can comfort? Not mine, but His . . .
my life verse is Deuteronomy 31:8 . . . praying that it will bless you!

Anonymous said...

I was led to your site through (in)courage and I continue to be encouraged by the glorious ways that He works in our lives.

I would love to be able to email you and share my story to you and be encouraged by your own journey.

Thanks for your life,
PX

Jerri Kelley said...

Gramma Grits,
Thank you! My verse for this year is Joshua 1:9, and the Lord used your beautiful words to encourage me and help me regain perspective. Bless you!

PX, you can go to my profile, and my email is listed there. I would be honored to talk with you. Thank you for your kind words, and thank you for YOUR life. May it be a glorious adventure with Him!

Anonymous said...

Hi ms. Jerri,

I am accessing your blog through my phone and unfortunately, it wont link me to your email. Is there anyway to contact you? (I no longer use Facebook so that's not an option for me)

PX

Jerri Kelley said...

PX, you can email me at jerri(at)hope-ful(dot)net

Does that help? Otherwise, you can always contact me through the comments. If you don't want it posted, just let me know, but I'm not sure how I could respond privately that way.

Jerri Kelley said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

mizzbrizz said...

Last year was my first divorced Mother's Day and I went away with my girlfriends for 5 days. At the time, we didn't realize it was Mother's Day when we made our plans. This year, my two little ones made me cards that were so beautiful and loving and my ex sent me a beautiful card on behalf of the children. When I thanked him he told me I am and have always been an amazing mother...that made my day!

Jerri Kelley said...

Mizzbizz, I love that your ex told you that! How perfect! One of my last texts from Rob the day before he died said, "Thank you for being a great mom to our kids!" That is gold to me. :-)