Belief That Remains

???????? I wanted to share a Belief That Remains and in memory of Suzzane, Mother’s Day and her Birthday I wanted to share A Tribute to Suzzie and the Many Forms of Motherhood. As you know mothers come in many forms from the traditional moms to grandparents becoming moms and even dads who become moms.

Mother’s Day has already passed, but what Mother’s Day brings up doesn’t end when the date changes. Some days are not contained by a calendar. The days linger in memory, in loss, in gratitude, and in the quiet ways love keeps speaking long after the moment has gone.

My daughter, Suzzie, was born on Mother’s Day—Sunday, May 8th, 1988. And she now lives in Heaven. So motherhood for me exists in more than one place at once.

A daughter in Heaven.
A son on Earth in a different State. A mom in Heaven. A Mother-in-law still here.
And a heart that holds each person in my heart without letting anyone disappear.

Suzzane’s word was “Believe.” It stayed.

It is carried in Leslie’s tattoo.
It is carried in the places I don’t always have words for.
It is carried in the decision to keep going even when nothing feels steady.

And I am grateful for Charlie, who reminds me that life still arrives, even in the middle of grief, and still asks us to keep living forward.

Love did not end when Suzzane left.
It only changed its shape.

It became memory.
It became strength.
It became something that doesn’t leave.

A child in Heaven does not leave a family behind.
They remain part of everything that follows.

They teach parents how to handle grief in a new way and that no, matter what happens to not give up. The LORD isn’t finished with them, yet he just needed the best with him and he chose our children.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates