My father passed away three days ago.

Included in the many thoughts and feelings that come with grieving this loss, I’m pondering what kind of father he was and the kind of father I am and want to be.

I want to be sure to reflect the finest qualities of love: patient; kind; not proud; not rude; not self-seeking; not easily angered; cheers what is true; always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.

To be sure, I learned a lot from my father. And just as sure, I learned a lot from Warren, though he spent a very, very short time on Earth. Warren opened my heart and mind to more love. His life and death taught me a great deal about that last love quality: persevere. One of the many reasons I can and do carry on is because of love.

(It’s interesting to see that within the word “persevere” is the word “severe” which means…according to an online thesaurus…uncompromising, stern, difficult, harsh.)

Although grieving is a difficult and harsh process, there’s a way in which I’m being good to myself and being true to the reality of my life circumstances when I persevere; not out of stubborn, angry determination, but out of love.