remember that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, not the death of our child. We must accept they have gone on before us to be with the Lord, our God and is with peace and celebrate the
Christmas season. This isn't always
easy to do and may take time. One of the ways that I have included my son, Michael, in my Christmas celebration is to hang an ornament in his memory as a way to have them with you for the holidays. I found a Nascar race car ornament for Dale Earnhardt, who was his idol. I also bought one that was a skier to remind me of his first skiing when he was four years old and one with a figure roasting marshmallows to remind me of our many camping trips and boyscouts.
Michael always told the twins that "at my house we eat dessert first" and their eyes were big as flying saucers as they looked at me in disbelief. Michael told them "Don't look at Nanny, I have waited a long time to make rules in my house for my mother and father to have to obey." He was so excited about it. So now we go out to an Italian restaurant or a Mexican restaurant and we order dessert first in his memory, which the girls love. It is a positive way to remember the loving person that Michael was and how funny he was. Depression really changes a person and the way we treat people has an effect on them. Some of which can't be taken back. If some had showed Michael the love that he needed and deserved, he may have stayed with us.
Following is one of the things that towns are doing to remember those that have died by suicide. Michael's picture above is laminated and hung on this Memory Tree in Wisconsin. Thanks Karen for all you do in our son's memory. Linda J. Stilson
Memory Tree of Lights
Karen Gleason-
phone # 608-302-9090 Email:pudgyspal@yahoo.com
bravenet.com