On the journey called ‘life’ we get to uncover the reality, the beauty, the fulfillment of our lives with family and friends. This is true when they are as close to us, loving us with affection, and caring for us like we are from a royal family.

This love is the medicine to the soul that heals our inner hurts, and brings us to the great investment of the "Emotional Bank Account” (EBA). If we are rich in our EBA; we don’t struggle much with our feelings. However, when the EBA is distorted by life’s challenges, like the loss of a loved one, lots of queries with hard-to-find answer come up, but life has no formula; no body truly predicts the future.

This queues me to this—poem:

I knew you were hurting although you wouldn’t cry,
And could see you were suffering, see the pain in your eye I wanted to comfort you, to hold you, be with you that day,

You looked so helpless and frail while in bed you did lay.

I watched as you shivered from a new pain,
And wondered how I might have handled the same.
I wanted to scream, to shout, and to yell,
You said you were fine although your skin was so pale.

I knew in my heart your time was near end,
And wished I could take you, your body to mend.
I knew that soon God would be your closest friend,
You told me many times that’s how it would end.

I stood there watching as each breath came slow,
And fought to find courage, my emotions were low.
I promised you when the time came that I’d not cry,
You never saw my eyes wet, always they were dry.

I held your hand as I silently said goodbye,
And knew in my heart that soon you would die.
I stroked your forehead and said how I loved you,
You nodded and smiled and I knew that you knew.

I no longer care, my tears I can’t hide,
And as I stood there waiting for death by your side.
I knew then that God was your closest friend.
you had told me many times that’s how it would end.*
There are so many stories I still want to tell
There are so many I love you’s left unsaid
There are many tears left uncried
There are many dreams left to fall apart
 life to knit together after you left, BUT
 We Will always have you in our hearts.

The loss of a loved one is something that we can never get used to. Each time someone else passes away the pain is always the same. The first thing you need to do is understand that death is an escapable part of nature. Harsh as those words are, they are true. This natural process does not single out individuals neither does it target specific people. It happens to everyone alike.
There is a difference between remembering someone with grief and remembering someone with love.
The times you think about this person should not be moments of grief. Rather think of all the wonderful times you had together. You might not have spent as much time as you wanted with that person. Those few precious moments should be remembered with joy not sadness.
This is to all people who lost their loved ones in the course of the year, and to those who still have pains and grief about a person who passed away. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
Dedicated to: Bagumya Fred aka Freddo (LDK), Musanabera Esther (APRED),  Munyaburanga Christian (KAGARAMA S.S) and to all who have lost their loved ones.

jamiefrings@yahoo.com