as we remember them

I meant to post this yesterday in memory of my dad, but was so overwhelmed with my mom's illness I never managed to get it done...however, I don't want the anniversary of his death to pass without doing anything in his memory. This is a Jewish prayer I found in a book about grief after he died, and I've always found it to be a tremendous comfort; it expresses so many of the feelings about grief and loss, and the world to come that I've come to believe since he died. He's always with me now; I can feel him patting me on the back and saying gruffly, "Good job, kid" or "hang in there kid, you're stronger than you think" or just being with me, smiling at me with that beloved twinkle in his blue eyes. So here's to you, daddy:

We Remember Them

In the rising of the sun and in its going down,
we remember them.
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
we remember them.
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring,
we remember them.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer,
we remember them.
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
we remember them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength,
we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart,
we remember them.
When we have joys we yearn to share,
we remember them.
So long as we live, they too shall live,
for they are now a part of us, as
we remember them.