Tomorrow will be one year since my brother Shane passed away. I can't believe it has been that long. It seems like just yesterday that I received the panicked phone call from my family giving me the news that my brother was in the hospital and not expected to live. Shane had a severe heart attack and was in a coma for 2 weeks before passing away. He was 33.I love my brother Shane so much and I miss him like crazy. I think about him everyday. He was a loving and sensitive brother. I always laugh when I think back to a journal entry I made once when I was very young. I was writing about my brother Shane and I wrote that he was a very nice big brother and that he never hit me on purpose, and if he did, he always said he was sorry. Just to clarify, he NEVER hit me, not even on accident. I think it is so funny that I wrote that. I must have been trying to demonstrate just how nice he was by using that as an example. :)
I love my brother SO MUCH and I am SO THANKFUL for the knowledge I have that FAMILIES ARE FOREVER! I don't know how people can cope with death who don't believe that they will be able to see their loved ones again and that death is not the end. For me, it is the only way I can find comfort...knowing that Shane is in a good place and that I will see him again.
Sometimes it is hard to understand why things happen the way they do. I just read the Nie Nie story and can't stop sobbing. It is so sad, yet, their family can see that this tragedy and challenging experience has strengthened their family and that despite the awfulness of the whole situation, good has come out of it. The same is true for my family. We all miss my brother dearly, but even in our struggles and sadness, good has prevailed. My family is closer, we appreciate life more, we love more, laugh more, enjoy the small moments more, and we realize more what is truly important.
I have always had a special place in my heart for Shane. He has influenced my life greatly and I am so thankful to be lucky enough to have a brother as great as him.
I can't even imagine losing one of my siblings..that must have been so hard! SOunds like you have a great family!
ReplyDeleteYou are strong and full of wisdom. I have been reading the NieNie story too. (Crazy how far her story has spread) My biggest fear in this life is losing loved ones.....and that's knowing that I'll see them again!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your Brother. I didn't know until you put this on your blog. I can't believe he had a heart attack so young.
ReplyDeleteI love your perspective, it is nice to have the knowledge of the gospel in our lives.
Oh Jen...I am so sorry that you lost your brother. I can only imagine your heart ache. You are so right about how wonderful it is that we know that families are forever. I can't imagine how hard it is for people that lose their loved ones and don't have the knowledge that we do. We sure love you two!
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