Monday, February 22, 2010
Good Monday everyone!
I want to dedicate my blog today to Serena Wills and her mother, Marguerite Sauti Wills - who passed away on Friday, February 19th. May she rest in peace and my God deliver strength to Serena and her family.
It's hard to know what to say when someone leaves us or a friend loses a loved one - we don't deal very well with death usually. We see it as the enemy, even though it's as natural as birth, as day is to night...as breathing out is as natural as breathing in. It's a cycle completed that is most times hard to bear, because we simply cannot conceive of an end to ourselves or those we love.
It's a natural and appropriate response to grieve, because the person we want to be here isn't here anymore. But a Divine spirit never dies, and an angel's love always surrounds us. Life is in the eternal present when the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. In our grief, we sometimes forget that our true self isn't our physical self. Birth is not the beginning of life, nor is death the end. Both are a part of the continuous flow of life, the all encompassing theme of existence.
The circle is complete when we become one with God, and Ms. Wills rests in paradise now. She has returned to that changeless bliss at the center of God's Kingdom, out of which everything manifests and around which everything revolves. God manifests in infinite variety, and it's His pleasure to give us the Kingdom...His boundless gift.
We cannot live except as an ongoing succession of births, deaths and rebirths. To have life, you must lose it - like a grain of wheat that falls to the ground to produce a rich harvest. Perhaps we don't bury our loved ones, but plant them in the faith that their spirit is raised up into a new life. Everything and everyone in creation was born into HIS creation - and as above so below, on earth as it is in Heaven - in the image and likeness of God, we too, are life eternal...everlasting.
Marguerite Sauti Wills
May 20, 1949-February 19th, 2010
-b
18 comments:
I can't even say it today.... BUT I am first...
I'd like to extend my sincerest condolences to Serena and her family at this time...
We have a great little blog family & I know Serena knows that her & her family are in our hearts & prayers. Her mom has moved on to a better place & Serena's wisdom & strength is amazing!!! May god continue to bless them all>
My condolences to you and your family. It is never easy to lose a love one but know that you have the prayers and support of the blog family.
wow
My heart is heavy for her right now. But like you said Brooke, she rests in paradise now, where nothing can hurt her, no pain exists, and bliss is everlasting.
Serena, you are a soldier for your mother, and we all know how much you loved her and how close you two were. You are an amazing daughter, which is a given considering the strong, vibrant mother you were blessed enough to have. Everyone should be so blessed.
I know that you have a strong faith, and God will bring you through. My sincerest condolences to you and your family and friends.
Serena,
My condolences go out to you and your family, and I will keep you all in my prayers. God bless you.
I don't even know Serena...but seeing/reading this really took a lot out of me. I remember her talking about her mother, and being so strong during her mother's illness.
It's crazy how people are so saddened by death, when really, we are all on loan from God anyway--children don't really belong to parents, and our parents don't belong to us either. We should all rejoice in the fact that her mother is finally pain free, full of strength, with a brand new body and the beauty of her youth. She is in Paradise with the Lord, a place where we all want to be.
Serena, I will definitely keep you and your family in my prayers.
My condolences go out to you and your family. May she rest in peace..
Serena,
You have my prayers and I send them up for you and your family today.
Brooke,
Everything you wrote is true, even though it's so hard for us to realize it in our times of grief. Like the Yolanda Adams songs you have playing on the blog today - even with a fragile heart, we are all just a prayer away from being healed. I'll be listening to these songs all day today to give Him praise and rejoice in our blessings, and in the fact that Ms. Wills is now in Heaven with the Lord. Amen.
I felt such a gut punch when I read about Serena's mom on FB. Cancer is such a monster. I have 2 friends now who have recently lost mothers to it. It took my grandmother as well. It's an awful way to go. I've expressed my thoughts to Serena already but my prayer is for everyone in our blog family. I'm sure we all have personal struggles, battles and demons we never talk about but work daily to overcome. I pray we all stay lifted up and will overcome what ever it is. I particularly pray for Serena at this difficult time. Her mother died knowing how wonderful a daughter she had.
Serena,
Words can't express how sorry I am to hear of your loss. But our loss is Heaven's gain...and she's watching over you. You have been an amazing daughter to her, and I'm sure you brought her comfort. Know now that God will comfort you.
My condolences to you and your family.
Hi everyone. First of all I want to say thank you Brooke. When I got your text message about the blog and read it I was all choked up. Seeing Mom's name with a sunrise and now sunset doesn't make sense.
But she fought an amazing battle! She died the way she wanted too. At peace and in peace. No tubes, etc.
Being there all day Friday and laying on her shoulder crying as she took her last breaths brought closure.
She left and I have no regrets. We talked about everything. Now she's with me, walking with me and Friday night she carried me.
I don't know how spiritual some of you are but she already gave me and my family signals that she made it. She told that, "I'm here and made it. I'll miss you and always will love you."
That whisper came to me that night. She flickered her lights in her bedroom. No its not the light bulb. I smiled and told her I'm at peace too Mommy.
I'll leave you all on this note. Love your parents, get it right with them because they don't belong to us as someone said.
The last thing you want to do is for them to leave you and you have a heart full of regrets and guilt.
I'm happy that our relationship was so beautiful and honored that God chose me to come through Marguerite Sauti Wills.
As we say in the African Tradition..."Ase Mama Sauti, Ase to those that walked before us and met her at the gates...Ase, Ase, Ase."
Ase is you giving praise to your ancestors and loved ones that passed on.
Also...Happy Birthday Papa! Take care of Mom and lil sis Ayana...love our Mommy and help her to rest in peace.
God bless...
Serena,
I'm in awe of your strength, and it inspires me. I'm so happy that your mother is with God, and that you are both at peace. You are truly amazing.
I cried as a read this blog, and some more after reading your comment Serena. Although my heart goes out to you, I can already tell that you are well on your way to healing. I can't believe how strong you are, and you are an inspiration to me. I hope that we all have even just a fraction of the faith and strength that you do. Amazing indeed.
OK Brooke just let me know Serena posted her comment & of course I had to come read it...SOOOO now I am sitting at my new job at my new desk hysterical crying & I'm probably going to get fired for being bi-polar...lol
Serena you amaze me every day.... The strength & courage you showed throughout your mom's illness & now while dealing with her death is just something that leaves me speechless...
I agree with you Serena about loving your parents..My mom never had the relationship she wanted with my grandmother & when my grandma passed it hit her like a ton of bricks. She never got closure & has a ton of unresolved issues. Luckily even though she's a handful my mom & I have an EXCELLENT relationship & she already has an excellent relationship with Sophia and that is something that I will always be thankful for...
My thoughts and prayers are with Serena and her family during this difficult time.
What a caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.
Sincerely,
DMoe
Serena - I hope you received my text and message on FB. There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said...God bless your mother's everlasting soul.
John and Dre wanted me to MAKE SURE I extended their heartfelt condolences to you. Even John's wife said to tell you she would keep your family in her prayers.
John's words were "Serena is a great spirit, so you know her mom is too."
Love and blessings to you and yours, Serena - ALWAYS.
Thank you everyone. I have incredible faith in God and know my ancestors met Mommy at the gates.
Rameer I did get your message. Thank you, John, and Dre so much.
DMoe...so eloquent. She's now the butterfly.
Annamaria...I'm so honored that you named my Mom Ms. Sophia's dedicated guardian angel along side of other greats such as your grandma...
Brooke...I can't wait until someone gets the hint and pays you to write! Its from the heart and reached creative chords.
Pray for us everyone as Wednesday approaches when we say our final good bye.
Also stay tuned for the dedication aka poem I wrote for Mom.
May peace be with you.
Post a Comment