Thursday, February 20, 2014

We Bereaved are Not Alone

Today was my friend Dixie's memorial service. It was a nice, sweet service, much like Dixie herself. There were three of her gorgeous quilts on display, and many pictures.

The officiate read this quote from Helen Keller. I had never heard it before but thought it was quite wonderfully comforting and felt like a hug. Here it is:

We bereaved are not alone.
We belong to the largest company in all the world, the company of those who have known suffering.
When it seems that our sorrow is too great to be borne, let us think of the great family of the heavy hearted into which our grief has given us entrance, and inevitably, we will feel about us their arms, their sympathy, their understanding.
Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world.
So long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain.
-- Helen Keller

During the service our big snowstorm began. The snow was coming down heavily and was beautiful, and typical of Minnesota. Dixie grew up in Texas but chose to live as a Minnesotan for the last approximately 25 years of her life. The snow was just right to honor our Dixie.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

May Dixie rest peacefully in a heaven where she can quilt her heart out

Debra Dixon said...

Peace to Dixie and comfort to those who loved her.

Hilachas said...

May Dixie rest in peace. Nice quote by Helen Keller.

Hilachas said...

May Dixie rest in peace. Nice quote by Helen Keller.

Anonymous said...

What an elegant an lovely quote from someone who had such a rough start to her own life. To Dixie: Thanks for making Minnesota shine a little brighter for the time you spent here. C, beautiful post.