Honor your loved one in unique ways!
“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10, NKJV)
A few days after the funeral and burial my son, Andy, called me and said he wanted to do something special to honor the memory of his mother. He had looked into the MDA Muscle Walk in Seattle. I told him that was a fabulous idea and I would help and walk with him. Two years in a row our team, “In Loving Memory of Pat Robbins,” was the top fund-raiser. Here is what Andy had to say about his mother and why he was walking for MDA:
“On Friday, July 17th, 2015, my mother, Pat Robbins, passed away after suffering the effects of Muscular Dystrophy for over 10 years. I loved my mother with all my heart. Muscular dystrophy destroyed my mother’s health, and continues to plague my family today. This year, I am setting a very high fund-raising goal of $50,000 to support MDA’s family support and research programs. With your support, MDA can continue to support families like mine who continue to suffer the effects of this awful disease, and MDA-funded research can continue their search for a cure.”
We are in our 3rd event on September 16. It is such a great feeling to be walking beside my son in tribute to his mother and my dear sweet bride in heaven!
Pat’s Secret Gardens were another tribute to my dear sweet bride. Pat had 2 very special books she loved dearly, “The Secret Garden” and “Green Mansions.” I read these books and it came to me that through creative landscaping I could make a monument and tribute to her. So, I sat down with a landscape architect and we plotted out gardens on my lot that would be butterfly and hummingbird friendly as well as catching the beauty of both books. Another favorite place for Pat and me was Durango, Colorado. We would stand in awe of God’s creation and be amazed by the rushing streams and falls. That led to the inclusion of a very natural pondless waterfall in a secret place in the garden. I would sit out on the lanai every morning to read my Bible, listen to the falls and watch the butterflies and humming birds playing and feeding in the gardens. I know Pat is experiencing gardens beyond my wildest imagination but I know she would have been so happy to see the earthly gardens! These gardens gave me peace and hope!
LESSON LEARNED: Spend constructive time memorializing your loved one and spend time with your children to help them build lasting tributes to their mother. The time planning took my mind off of grief and gave me renewed purpose. It also gave me hope for my eternal home!
“For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.” (Ecclesiastes 12:5, NKJV)
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, NKJV)
Widower's Walk 