Since my kitty Eddie died, I’m cycling through grief, gratitude and grace | Commentary
1:30 AM on Apr 17, 2022 CDT
Now, barely a week into my grief of losing my Eddie — who loved vanilla ice cream, meatloaf and me — to liver disease, I seek solace in these ever-determined reminders of life. They’re an elbow to my ribs, nudging me to remember that from dark soil emerge plants; from dark skies, dawn; from dark spirits, sweeps of faith and starbursts of humanity.
What happened to Charlie heightened my awareness of the goodness within our grateful grasp. We may thrust our hands deep into our pockets when we suffer a loss, but caring people somehow know we’re losing our balance. They reach out, and we hold on for dear life. I don’t remember the context; only that after George Dunham, a co-host on The Ticket sports radio, said it, I got a little teary, frantically looking around for a tissue, and for a pen so I’d remember what he said.
I am gripped by grief, beyond grateful for the two years Eddie and I shared, and seeking — all but frantically at times — the grace I know is woven within all of this. I’m reminded of this on the Sunday after Eddie left this sweet earth, when my pastor tells us we are all products of grace.