I saw, I heard…

I saw your heart at a very young age.

Before you knew how much it would impact everything and everyone you would touch, on your journey.

I saw your empathy when you listened and cried with them as they shared their pain.

I saw your kindness rewarded as a camper, an athlete, a coworker.

I saw the hand you reached for – when you needed your father’s strength. Your eyes searching for connection when you needed his wisdom.

I saw your gentleness with animals and heard your crying when one died. Every creature knew your heart.

I saw your broken heart and heard the deep pain as you came to understand grief whether it was a non-death, or a death.

I heard you heart when you called every Monday night. I heard your thoughts as you became silent when talking of the deep painful things.

In my mind I see you playing.

In my mind I see you reaching for a hand to hold, a friend to hug, a niece or nephew to play with or animals to love.

In my mind I hear you ask “how you doing, mom? dad?

In my mind I feel your presence and I smile.

It’s Monday and I no longer hear your voice.

It’s your birthday and I no longer see you to celebrate our birthdays together.

It’s vacation and I no longer get to do a photo shoot of you on a disc golf course in TN.

It’s Christmas…

…I’ll be seeing you in all our familiar places.