夫が、ハワイにいる親戚(夫の父の従姉妹の子供)からのメールに書いた返事。
 100%同意するし、これを読んでなぜか慰められるものがあったので、夫の許可を得てこちらにもメモ。


Hi Pearl,

Thanks for checking in.

We are adjusting to the new reality as it slowly starts to sink in -- that no matter what we do Miho is not coming back. We are beginning to feel the weight of loss, though at first it only seemed surreal. Miho was such a lively, energetic girl and all of a sudden she is no more. 

When my mother passed two years ago I was sad but I could see that it was her time to go, and she and I had a good time reminiscing our lives as a family. With Miho it was a whole different story -- she was not ready to go, and she put up such a brave fight until the very end that we never really had a time to reflect and appreciate each other, although she managed to deliver the parting words 'I love you.' This is truly a sore bereavement. 

I think we'll be okay -- eventually -- sorrow will never cease but our relation to it will change. Right now we are still processing regrets, second-guessing ourselves, and crying, all of which I believe is another way of saying we loved and cared for Miho so much. I know Miho is in a better place, but for us staying present to our own loss and pain is the only way to deal, at least for now, until God shows us the next step in our lives.  

Thanks for all your support -- the flowers were beautiful and the sweets were, well, so sweet. They do help us deal with our grief. Believe me, we still have strength because of your prayers and love.   

Take care,

Noboru & Sachi  

12916073_559696187545284_1148940042718517382_o
(みんの親友のボーイフレンドのお母さんが、最近ポルトガルに旅行したときに、ファティマ大聖堂でみんのために灯してくれたロウソク)

*****
 先週の熊本での地震で、大勢の被災者が出ている。すでに40人の亡くなられた方が確認され、25万人近い方々が避難していると聞く。自分の娘を失って改めて思うことは、人ひとりの命の重さ。災害で複数の方がいっぺんに亡くなられると、報道などではどうしても数字になってしまいがちだけれど、それぞれの犠牲者のご遺族の痛みを思うと胸がしめつけられる。主の憐れみを祈り、また、現地から入ってくる情報や具体的な祈祷課題をもとに、シカゴからも祈らせていただいている。