Friday, July 10, 2009

Time Marches On ...

Wednesday was July 8 and it marked 23 years that my first husband passed away. It was July 8, 1986 that he slipped from my grasp very unexpectedly. He left that morning and simply never returned. I watched him drive down the hill and out of sight. It was the last time I would see him alive. In so many ways it seems like yesterday, and in so many ways it seems like forever.

Time marches on ...

I saw his sister yesterday quite unexpectedly. I had to get a copy of my Birth Certificate, so I went to the local Health Department and the lady that came out to hand it to me was C, my first husband's sister. She said as she held the Birth Certificate in her hand before she came out, she thought, "I knew a Dawn once," I was sad.

Time marches on ....

Then when she saw me we hugged and talked. It was great!!! We talked of things not spoken of in years. It was fabulous and sad. It was a mixture of joy and pain, but mostly joy as we reminisced about our time with sweet David - hers as a sister - mine as a wife. Our lives forever woven together in a beautiful tapestry of love and time, pain and joy.

Time marches on ....

I allow myself to feel the pain now that I never used to allow myself to feel. Sometimes raw, sometimes scarred over, always real. But instead of focusing on the pain, I'd like to focus on the person for a moment. David was the funniest person I had ever met, even to this day. He just had a way about him. His sense of humor was over the top. He made me laugh daily. I remember thinking back then, that I couldn't believe that I got to spend the rest of my life with this person. He was great!!! But that wasn't meant to be.

Time marches on ....

I have never shared pictures of David and I on this blog. Even though it has been 23 years now since his passing, there is still pain, and that pain makes it hard to share, but today I wanted to just share a couple of poignant moments from our wedding. It was the happiest day of both of our lives up to that point. It would be the happiest day of his life period. I'm so glad that I was the one that got to share it with him.





I know you are probably wondering how Dick feels about David and my relationship with him. Well that is one of the most wonderful things about my relationship with Dick (my now husband of 10+ years), we both loved David. Dick was David's best friend, and he was the best man in our wedding. Weird I know, but it is such a source of comfort and strength for me now. I can talk about this larger than life person and Dick knows exactly what I'm talking about. We share him in our lives now, our thoughts and feelings of him and his passing so soon.

David was 22 years old when he left this world. He was killed in an accident on a job site. He was electrocuted. It was a very sad day. But....

Time has indeed marched on, and I am so grateful to God for allowing me the time that I got to spend with David. And I am so thankful that He brought Dick and I together many years later to share in the grief of that time and to celebrate life.
Let me just say that even though this was indeed a huge tragedy in my life, God is so good. He sustained me and kept me, even when I ran. And He brought me back to Him and now teaches me daily what it is to be His. I am so grateful for the love of my Savior.

Thank you for sharing these moments with me today. I am sad, but I am also very aware of how God blesses my life every day and He keeps helping me to see the blessing in this very big thorn.

Have a Blessed Friday,



7 comments:

  1. Dawn~Your story brought tears to my eyes this morning. Time does go on and does allow us to heal, yet not forget those very special loved ones. What an amazing story!

    Thank you so much for sharing from your heart.

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  2. Thanks for sharing your story.. .I know that wasnt easy... & for sharing the pictures...

    Makes you wonder where life would be if that accident didnt happen.. but we know God has a plan & purpose for EVERYTHING!!!!

    I love that your husband was the best man in the wedding.. that you both knew David so well.. that does have to be a comfort to your heart...

    HUGGING YOU FRIEND!

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  3. Dawn,

    Thank you so much for sharing something both very painful and beautiful with all of us. It makes us know what a very special and amazing person you are when you allow us to peak inside and see your heart!

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  4. Dawn - thanks for sharing this part of your life with us. I know that part of you will always love David but that doesn't take away from the love you have with Dick.

    Glad Dak is doing good.

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  5. I love how God has loved you through tragedy and triumph. He has provided you with love and surrounded you with those who love you. What a faithful God we serve.
    Blessings ~ Lisa

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  6. Dawn-
    I am so touched by reading this story. I feel blessed that you would share it because I know it must be so painful to remember, and yet it is evident that God has brought you through it and to this wonderful point in your life right now! There was a rainbow after the storm. It is so comforting to know that God walks through the valley with us and, given time, will heal our heart.

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