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Saturday, April 5, 2008

Quiet Saturday

It’s been a quiet day, and that’s good. A week ago, I dreaded the arrival of Saturday—the day we usually spent with Jolene.

Mom and I ate lunch at a restaurant where we often went with Jolene. As we dined, I told Mom, “I’m not frightened of Saturday the way I was last week. I may fall apart at some point, but I’m not scared.”

We slept late. Had a leisurely morning. I bought a book of meditations for suicide survivors; each day has a scripture verse and a simple message on how to cope and move forward. Practical comfort from someone who’s been there.

After lunch, we stopped by Jolene’s old apartment to pick up the last of her mail. Nothing there to provoke tears, not like the “grant application success kit” that was forwarded to us. Jolene and I had spent a pleasant evening applying for a grant … something that now no longer matters. We stopped by the library, our books a week overdue, normal activities like returning borrowed items a mere footnote in the nightmare of the last few weeks.

And then we returned home during the hours we normally spent with Jolene. And you know, it wasn’t bad.

The one cry point of the day came when I picked up the mail. We received a sympathy card from complete strangers, women who knew Jolene from a therapy group she attended. People whom she had touched and we had never met. Somehow that reached deep inside of me in a way that all the expressions of sympathy from my friends have not.

Now if I can only get to sleep at a reasonable hour tonight.

6 comments:

Tanya Hanson said...

Now I lay me down to sleep...I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

God keep you save and peaceful, Darlene.

love,
Tanya

Darlene Franklin said...

Thanks for praying, Tanya. I had a lovely night's sleep. Well, I woke up in the middle throwing up and later had a nightmare, but I slept long and hard in between. :)

Mary Connealy said...

Darlene, I felt like God gave this to me for you today at Church.

Lamentations 3:32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.

Darlene Franklin said...

Thank you, Mary. What a beautiful promise.

squaredancer said...

Dar,

I still have the paper clip your Mom gave me. I am glad we could all get togeather. You and your family are in my prayes every day.
Call Me!!!! Ifyou need anything or to just talk. GOT IT? I will not take no for an answer.

Love Ya
Susan

Darlene Franklin said...

Susan,
And I still have the boots you gave me for SLC. Thanks, dear friend!