Godspeed

The boys and I returned home today after a nice long visit in Florence. We drove straight to Aaron's Aunt Shari and Uncle Dave's house, as we learned last night that Dave was heading to heaven after a difficult battle with cancer. We sang along to Point of Grace quite loudly (well...I did most of the singing) and pulled up outside the house to be met by Aaron's cousins Crystal and Ben coming outside. Dave had passed away just minutes before.

I still wanted to just go in for a second and say goodbye, so I explained to the boys what had happened and told them they could come in and play with their "cousin" Landon for just a second.

 "No. I want to see Uncle Dave," Liam said. I hesitated a little bit because I didn't want him to be upset or scared, but he was very insistent. Max ran off with Landon, and Liam headed to Dave's bedside. I tried to show Liam that it wasn't scary and said a quick prayer and touched Dave's arm gently, just as I would have had he still been with us. Liam just looked and was ok.

We only stayed for a few minutes, and when we got loaded back up into the car the questions came pouring out! We talked about why a body looks a little bit different after someone dies and how it is a house for our spirit. Dave's spirit was in heaven and didn't need his body anymore. I know Liam was a little taken aback by what he saw, and he had some specific questions that I tried my best to answer, but I feel like I did the right thing.

Death isn't something you can shield children from forever. The people we love will not always be here, and we need to live each day and each moment with gratitude for the time we do have. I believe in something greater than myself, and that life doesn't end when a heart stops beating. Our bodies and our hearts have electrical energy running through them, and energy cannot be created or destroyed; it just changes states from one form to another.

 What form do our souls take after leaving our bodies? We'll find out one day. Until then, I think Max put it best.  I asked where Uncle Dave's spirit had gone, and Max said, "It's here. It's with my spirit. And with Liam's spirit." You're right, buddy. He's right here.