I am mourning Elie Wiesel today, who died last weekend.
It occurs to me as I write this post how ironic it is that a survivor of the Holocaust died on our national day of freedom. Freedom: something that every Jewish man, woman, and child wished to have had during that terrible time in our history. And now he is free.
I went searching for a quote that would speak of the devastation of his losses, and I remembered this one … probably one of my favorite quotes of all time. Every time I read it, I get a lump in my throat. I could read it five times a day and that lump still materializes.
(I first read the words in Sheri Reynolds’ book, A Gracious Plenty, about a woman who was burned and horribly scarred in an accident when she was a little girl. It’s one of my favorite books.)
Why do the words affect me so? I think it’s this: I remember a terrible, horrible, painful time in my life when I was in my early 30’s. After the worst of the grief had passed, and I became so angry for so long, and during the worst of it, I remember distinctly thinking this: you can become a bitter old lady … or you can choose to learn and grow from this.
I don’t really know how that thought came into my head because believe me, I was bitter. I was angry. Heck, I still get angry. Oh yes I do. But, I also know, deeply know, that I grew and am a much better person (I think) because of it.
Like Elie Wiesel, I have scars, you have scars. We are all scarred.
I hope you rest in peace, Elie, and have joined your beloved family and friends in Heaven.
P.S. The background image I used I pulled from DeviantArt as a free download many years ago. I do not remember the exact link but if/when I do, I’ll update this post. Also, the link above to the book is an affiliate link.
I was also sad to hear about Elie Wiesel. What a man. That is a good quote because it’s about hope. That was what Elie was all about.
Yes, I believe that too. Thanks, Debi.
What an absolutely beautiful post! I remember a dark time in my life when I sat crying and crying until I wondered how many buckets might I fill with tears until I stopped? And that’s then I realized I had a choice … to stop. It was hard, that long, painful dark time, but like you I’m grateful for it, for how I was caused to grow. I had been aware of it before, the joy and beauty of life and the world, but there is such clarity now, it takes my breath. Thank you, Kim, for this post, this lovely tribute.
Barbara, your words brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for commenting and sharing.
I love your post, too, and it’s so timely for me. I have been thinking – only very recently – how I am feeling more and more freedom from a heavy emotional burden I didn’t know how to put down. All I could do was move in the direction of a clearing I could see far down a shadowy path. I have been guided by so many glimmers of light along the way – from people’s kind and wise words written, spoken, and sung, to my own willingness to befriend and be more present with myself. The quote from Sheri’s book is so perfect, too. For so long, I looked at a scar and only saw hurt. Now, I see more and more healing. And, I know it’s more grace than will that carries me toward that clearing. How grateful I am.
What a great tribute and point of view. I need to have a talk with myself.