Candles

August 11 2017 would have been Sharry’s 31st birthday, 421 days after she left her body and brought her baby into this world. She is excruciatingly missed every day and particularly this day as we celebrate her life and love. Sharry always loved celebrating birthdays. As a little girl she always was very careful to remind her family what special day was coming just around the corner and how excited she was for it. Sharry’s mom recently passed on some childhood writings to me and one of the most adorable instances of Shar’s birthday focus was a nice note to her mom. “Mom I just want to write you a thank you note to tell you how much I love you and thank you for all you do, and don’t forget my birthday is only two weeks away.” On her last birthday she blogged about turning 29 and spoke of her love for adventure, family and friends.

Pictures from Shar birthdays in years past

Thirty one candles should be lit that will remain dark.

Lao Tzu, the Taoist teacher, is believed to have said, “The flame that burns twice as bright burns twice as long.” Nowhere is this more true than with Sharry. She lived full of passion and love for the world and living things around her. She was idealistic, good and innocent enough to believe that she could make a difference and have an extraordinary life full of experiences, love and adventure. She fulfilled that dream and has left behind a legacy in mine and JJ’s hearts and souls as well as many others she has touched.

One of mine and Shar’s favorite meditations was to light a candle and sit and watch it in the dark for ten minutes doing our best to bring our whole attention and presence into the dancing tiny flame. It has a very peaceful and sobering power.

Sharry’s almost 30 years teach us that we all burn like a flame atop a candle. Life is beautiful. Life is light in a dark universe. Life is comfort and warmth. But life is also incredibly fragile and none can truly know how long our wick may last or predict when an unforeseen breeze may blow.

In memory of Sharry’s 31st birthday...

light a candle and bask in it’s light

Tell a loved one how much you cherish them

Forgive a slight and let love prevail

Donate time or money to a cause
(Shar loved animals, the earth and education)

via GIPHY