It was just a simple question..."How are you today?" I ask that every
time I see someone. Most of the time I get a simple answer...
"Fine, how are you?" Or
"Oh, alright" or
"Things could be
better!"
Today I asked a lady and found out that she just lost
her son. She didn't tell me at first. We did the chit chat, the "how are
you?' And she said, "Alright." I replied, "Well, I hope it gets better
for you!"
"They say it will, but I can't imagine," she said
softly.
"Well, get outside in this beautiful weather," I said.
"I'm going fishing on Saturday," she replied, indicating a local
state park.
"I went last Saturday and stayed on the lake in my
kayak from 11:00 until 6:00."
I was impressed.
"My son
loved to fish there," she said. Without a pause and quite matter-of-fact
she added, "I lost him in March."
I didn't ask how, I didn't
probe. I offered my prayers.
She goes fishing for her son.
Fishing for answers. Answers she will never find.
"I'll see you
in my prayers," I said as she left the room.
Afterwards I then
went to a local restaurant for a little breakfast.
In the booth
next to me I heard a very heated discussion between an older man and his
wife.
It was about their son.
He was angry. They had
issues. Issues that needed answers. Answers he will never find.
I
wanted to say to them, "But he's alive." It was none of my business.
As I stood up to pay for my meal, I silently said, "I'll see you in
my prayers."
Who do you have "issues" with today?
Stop
dealing with the "why" of the past and begin anew with the "What" you
can do to move on to better days. They are alive.
The memory of
one son streamed down her cheek and all she wanted were answers. The
truth is, the only answer that would satisfy her would be that he was
not dead, but he was just at the lake fishing.
The reality of
another son was they had issues with him.
He was alive. Maybe his
parents should take him fishing while they can.