When you enter the cemetery and look off to the right on the
other side of a duck pond, there is an area with graves in close proximity to
each other.
We visited my father in laws plot. Said our words of
sentiment, and then decided to explore some other parts of the cemetery. The
kids and I were intrigued by the bunched up graves, Senior came with us, but then went on his own expedition.
As I expected the tiny graves were for kids. Sadness rushed over me. I immediatly thought about their parents. How ever do you fill the void of losing a child?
Some were well maintained by grieving parents or siblings.
Others were long forgotten. The copper
head stones long oxidized and blue/green. The dates ranged from the late 50s to
the present. How they died is not relevant, weather it was illness or some sort
of tragedy. What is relevant is that they lived, and left this world long
before they should have.
The boys went through and read them. NW became very
reverent, and wondered if they were angels now ND inquired about heaven and what the "kid Angels" as he called them, look like.
I put my arm around both and silently
Thanked God for healthy, inquiring children.
We found one particular marker that was a small heart. It
sat off from the others. Tree roots were grown around it, the little boys name
was Michael, and he died in 1962. had he lived he would be my sisters age. No one had been to visit Michael in probably
decades. His parents probably deceased.
NW bent down and cleaned dirt from off it. On better inspection we saw little angels adorning it, and hearts. NW
stared at it for what seemed like an eternity, I asked what he was thinking,
and he told me the little boy did not grow up, and it made him sad that no one put flowers on it. He asked if at any time we could. I smiled at his thoughtfulness and said "Sure".
I soak in every minute with my boys, when they fight, laugh, play, or snuggle with me. I take it all in.
I make sure they know mommy and Daddy love them. I always kiss them good night and we say our prayers. And Again, I Thank God for them.
-JUGM
