The Cycle Of Life
I apologize for my absence of late, but life has taken a few turns lately. One of the best fathers I have ever known, my Uncle Danny, passed away a few weeks back. I took the trip home to support my mother and attend the funeral, but also received a bit of a surprise. My cousin Kyle, Uncle Danny’s only son, was going to be getting married, which happened this past weekend. So once again, I took the trip back home to attend the wedding and spend time with my mother.
The wedding was very nice, but there was an air of sadness that I’m quite sure everyone in attendance could feel. Uncle Danny’s absence was obviously on everyone’s mind, and several relatives broke down crying at certain times. I couldn’t help but try to put these two situations into context. On one hand, my family had lost a great man, father and husband. On the other hand, my family had gained a new member and congratulated another on taking a big step towards becoming the type of man his father was. It’s the cycle of life, and good or bad, we got to experience a full circle in a few very short weeks.
At the funeral, so many people stood up and vocally expressed their admiration for my uncle. It struck me at the time that this is simply the highest honor once we pass. To live on in the minds and hearts of those who loved us and to send people home in a better mood from our funeral than before they arrived. At the wedding, many people toasted the groom and expressed confidence in knowing he would be as great a father as his own.
If we are lucky, this is how life goes, round and round, passing on our good traits to our kin and sending them out into the world so they can have the opportunity to do the same. One day I will be doing the same with my children, and the time until then is ultimately just preparing them to do so. Hopefully, I can do as well as my Uncle Danny.
R.I.P. Danny, you’ll always be remembered.
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