Our 2nd Annual Gilchrist Pediatric Memorial Service

On Sunday, April 29, 2018, we attended our 2nd Annual Gilchrist Pediatric Memorial service. Since attending last year, we had an idea of what to expect. There would be the welcome from the executive director thanking us for allowing Gilchrist into our homes, our lives, and the privilege of taking care of our children during such a difficult time. In reality it should be us, the families thanking them, the staff and volunteers of Gilchrist for helping us and taking such wonderful care of our children and us. Brian and I have spoken over the years regarding not knowing how the staff does it....how they take care of these kids and families knowing the child will pass. Also at the service, other staff members will read poems or excerpts from other readings.  

~~Love Poem Olio~~

Love is not written on paper, for paper can be

erased. Nor is it etched on stone, for stone can

be broken. But it is inscribed on a heart and

there it shall remain forever.

"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the

mark of weakness, but of power. They speak

more eloquently than ten thousand 

tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming 

grief...and unspeakable love."

"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love

as deep; the more I give to you, The more I have

for both are infinite."

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not

together...there is something you must always

remember. You are braver than you believe,

stronger than you seem, and smarter than you

think. But the most important thing is, even if 

we're apart...I'll always be with you."

Some of the volunteers from the music program play and sing beautiful music that fits the service just right. The Chaplin speaks about hope and faith in a non-denominational manor. He comments on how each one of our children have given us a gift, a wonderful gift and how we should remember the hope and courage they had. 

~~Excerpt from Mary Poppins~~

By P.L. Travers

Mary Poppins had gone.

Jane read the note she had left. 'Mrs. Brill!' she called.

'What does "Au Revoir" mean?'

'I think, Miss Jane dear, it means "To meet again".' Jane and Michael looked at each other. Joy and understanding shone in their eyes. They knew what Mary Poppins meant.

Michael gave a long sigh of relief. 'That's all right,' he said shakily. 'She always does what she says she will.' He turned away.

'Michael, are you crying?' Jane asked.

He twisted his head and tried to smile at her. 'No l'm not,' he said 'it is only my eyes.'

~~Excerpt from The Little Prince~~

By Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"All men have the stars but they are not the same

things for different people. For some, who are 

travelers, the stars are guides. For others they are

no more than little lights in the sky. For others,

who are scholars, they are problems. For 

businessman they were wealth. But all these stars

are silent.

You - you alone - will have the stars as no one else

has them-"

"And at night you will look up at the stars. 

My star will just be one of the stars, for you. "In

one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I 

shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the

stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at 

night

And so you will love to watch all the stars...

You-only you-will have stars that can laugh.

I shall not leave you"

There is sweetness

in the laughter of all the stars...

Then the hard part comes, the Sea Glass Ceremony and Calling of Names & Photo Tribute. This is the part where the names and photos of all the children who have passed are read and shown.

The Special Meaning of Sea Glass

When glass is broken and discarded into

the sea, the ocean and the sand work together,

gradually smoothing the sharp and jagged

edges. Over time, the sea glass becomes

smooth and rounded. The glass is still

there, but its edges are softened and no

longer cut.

Sea glass is like your emotions following the

death of a loved one or a tragedy. The

initial pain is sharp and piercing. It hurts to

hold it. You may wonder if it will ever go

away.

With time and the support of others, the

edges of your feelings become a little

smoother, a little softer. The jagged pieces

become more rounded. Like the glass, the

memories and feelings are still there, but

they become easier to hold and to carry

with you. They turn into something beautiful

and rare that you appreciate and keep

forever.

This is the part that got me last year as well as this year. I'm ok with all the speeches and readings. Seeing the names with the photos and hearing the names read, well that's when I seem to come unglued. Yes, I know I don't have to hold it together all the time. I know that we are still in the beginning of our lifetime journey...we will continue to move thru and move with but never move on, get over or forget.