You Don't Just Lose Someone Once

You lose them over and over, 

sometimes in the same day. 

When the loss, momentarily forgotten, 

creeps up,

and attacks you from behind. 

Fresh waves of grief as the realization hits home,

they are gone. 

Again. 

You don't just lose someone once,

you lose them every time you open your eyes to a new dawn,

and as you awake,

so does your memory,

so does the jolting bolt of lightning that rips into your heart, 

they are gone. *

Again. 

Losing someone is a journey,

not a one-off.

There is no end to the loss,

there is only a learned skill on how to stay afloat,

when it washes over.

Be kind to those who are sailing this stormy sea,

they have a journey ahead of them,

and a daily shock to the system each time they realize, 

they are gone.

Again. 

You don't just lose someone once,

you lose them every day,

for a lifetime. 

C Donna Ashworth 

Thanks to Robin for sharing this poem with me. Yes! It's so good. 

*THIS waking up is what I've tried to describe...each day realizing anew the loss.  THIS is what pushes me to the bathroom where I cannot come out to face another day of grief until I am assured that God is truly with me NOW...my oft repeated prayer,

Immanuel -

Walk with us,

Full of grace and truth (Jn 1:14)