No colors or bold type, or anything.
This past Monday, July thirteenth, marked the thirteenth year celebrating the birth of my third baby, Ryan John.
Ryan was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was thirteen months old and died when he was sixteen months old. Had Ryan lived, I'd currently have the pleasure of three teenagers to call my own.
I guess I still have that pleasure though I'm guessing it's a little easier in that one of my three teenagers happens to live away from home, or in a better home, heaven.
Most of you know this chapter of my life. Most of you were with me when we welcomed Ryan into the world and there when we had to let go, in a way, and say goodbye. If you were there even just for the end, you know what a blessing it was to know Ryan and that even in death, you can understand that even during such a devastating time, it was a blessing to know him.
I only want to share this one thing right now and refrain from going any further.
Through all of this life and death stuff it has become very clear to me that love is eternal.
Love is the mightiest of forces that mankind will ever experience.
Love can withstand anything, just like scripture tells us.
Love even conquers death as when someone you love dies, the love that connects you, lives.
So this is all I have for you - this truth that love is so powerful that even dreaded and feared death cannot destroy it.
If you're thinking that you're not sure about love being able to conquer death in the way that I am meaning, which is to say that love lives on, forever, securely in our heart and mind - in the deepest part of our being, and never ever dies, then I challenge you to let go of everything, invest yourself fully into the celebration of someone else... you know, love them without fear of ever losing them...
and I promise you, they will be with you, through love, forever.
Love is win - win, even in loss.
(Ryan, this is dedicated to you, my 'Scooch Booch' - which is what I called you because of how you scooted across the floor as fast as you could whenever you heard the pantry door open or heard the sound of Grandpa's voice. I'm thinking there must be a huge pantry in heaven and that Grandpa is standing by it, holding the door open for you to gather all that you'd like.)
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