50 is too young an age to die.
And so it was for my brother-in-law.
The toll it took on the family caused a 7-year rift between the siblings, my husband and his sister.
By the grace of God, reconciliation finally came last year between the two. And the mending and healing hasn't stopped.
The relational recovery took a big jump today on my husband's birthday when a surprise package came to the door.
A birthday bundle from California. His sister sent it and said it came from a strange box in her garage; the leftover remains of the lost brother's belongings.
Over the last 7 years, she could barely look at the boxes, much less break the plastic tape and open them. She avoided going to the carport entirely for years. The sight of the boxes were a reminder of his untimely death and the familial damage that ensued.
"Honey," she asked her husband, "will you go out to the garage and get more paper towels?" Other family members were sent to do tasks in that dark place so the boxes could be avoided. There were about 4 of them left over from the brother's life.
They remained unopened.
Until last week, the week of my husband's birthday.
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The sudden death, years ago, had caught everyone by surprise. But the chores of dealing with the vestiges of a life still had to be finished.
So the relatives walked through his uninhabited house, dividing up momentos.
"Here. You take these." Someone handed my husband Tim, a bag of watches. "These were his watches. You should have them." No sooner did they fill his palm, but another relative took them out. "No, nothing goes to anyone now, " they said.
It wasn't the value but the sentiment that the watches held.
That was the beginning of events that tore the family apart, each feeling disrespected, even disowned by the actions of one another. Whether to cremate or bury. What to do with the estate. With no will, it was a messy procedure.
Tempers exploded. Words stung the air like poisoned darts that took years to asuage.
Then last year, a simple letter of love between Tim and his sister broke the wall down and tears flowed, hearts erupted with pent up emotion and love.
Tonight my husband opened his birthday gift from his sister. She had finally gotten courage to open the boxes that were in her garage.
As Tim pulled back the cardboard flaps of his gift, took out the bubble wrap and tissue paper, there to our shock and surprise lay
his brother's watches!!!
8 Years later, priceless belongings of his brother's were finally entrusted to him!
Just as it seemed they were meant to be.
How precious to possess an article that touched his skin. A time piece that wrapped around his
wrist so close to where his pulse ran strong, illustrating that his life goes
on in a place where time is no more and brothers, sisters, mothers and
sons will all be united by faith.
God's redemption and blessing to my husband. A balm to soothe and a gift to bless.
Happy Birthday, Tim!
