There is an eerie superstition which says "death comes in threes" but is it really true? How exactly does it work? Does the sequential deaths follow immediately after the first death? Death every other week? Or every other month? Or is it simply the death of three persons to whom you know within a close timeline? Well, i'm not sure how this works, if it really works or why it works this way but all i know my family has had three deaths in the last few months. All this coming from a girl who has never experienced the sting of death before until now. The first was my cousins' husband, then it was one of my cousins and most recently it was another cousin. All of whom weren't distant people, i knew them and knew them very well. Now all i have are memories.
The first death literally broke my heart. It was like i could feel the pain and heartache of my cousin. I could only imagine how her world shifted right beneath her feet, how things changed so quickly and with such a disastrous effect. They were young married couple and like all young couples they were making plans and taking big steps in their relationship. One minute they are together, cuddling, laughing and sharing their love and life with each other, then the next minute it all changed. He was a soldier and died in a car accident. I was helpless, without the words to help my cousin heal her wounds. But i felt better when i was near her, although i was inadequate, i was able to reassure her that i'd always be there for her when she needed a friend or a shoulder. Although he wasn't on duty at the time of his death, the JDF made sure he got a good farewell and for that we are extremely grateful!
The second death took me by surprise.
Capricorn. My little cousin was young, promising, intelligent, healthy, jovial, fearless and very territorial but she struggled with a sickness stronger than her. Depression. Depression is a disease, like all the other diseases no one is immune to it and people fight it everyday. She lost her battle with depression and it completely blindsided us (even though it shouldn't have because we all saw the signs!) So i know we failed her and for that i'm sorry. I remember writing a sermon at church and i spoke on a recurring statement made in 'Lilo & Stitch', the cartoon. "Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind." Sometimes i think we left her behind and she wondered off alone. :(
Lastly, was my big cousin. She was a powerhouse, a fighter, fashionista, my shopping parrie, my unapologetic foodie (like myself) and she was extremely convivial! Oh man, every word that came out of her mouth had me cracking up, literally. Her laugh alone could make me laugh. She had one of those infectious laughs that people speak of. Her biggest loves was her son and her grandchildren, she could talk about them all day.
- deep sigh -
- inhale -
Death is a phenomenon i don't understand. But what i do know is that, i want to be so content and happy with my life and my choices. So when it's my time to travel to the other side, i want it to be the right side. I wanna be right beside my Lord and Saviour. During those periods in my life, i found some solace in the scripture passages below, 'Mourning for the Dead' (Sirach 38:16-21) as well as in a song by Gramps Morgan- Jah Shall Wash Away.
If there is one thing i want you to take away from reading this post is that, you are a perishable item, so please live accordingly!
