The Lost Shell

Relationships are like shells found along the shoreline. Sometimes the most beautiful ones disappear from us, out of reach, through death, diseases like dimentia, disasters like divorce or some other circumstance that has them slip out of sight and reach but never out of longing thought for long. Grief ensues.

We rush into the surf, searching for a fleeting glimpse of what we had. But it is the very waves of forceful emotion that keep beating us back and frustrate our search. It's only when the waves of emotion subside that we can see clearly again and reach out to touch what is there. It may not be the one we lost, but in the clarity of vision and even touch we feel thanks for what we do find. And that's the real secret...gratitude to God for what He gave us, to the one we had the relationship with for all we cherished and enjoyed for that short time, and love for the Giver and the gift.