'Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.' - Charles Dickens from Great Expectations
So many links of chains. Connections are made of strength and love, born from hope. These are the ties that bind.
In 2021, while clearing Dad's workshops, a random comment by one of Dad's friends led me to message Tim and ask if he was the man who had bought Dad's steam roller from a broker several years before, the first link to a golden chain that continues to build.
As our family and friends gathered to celebrate our wedding day, there were many golden chains, created from a first link, some stretching back to the 80's, and some from decades since. Every chain is a treasured one as new links are added.
From the first link made with each funeral director, golden chains have been created that now include each loved one who comes through their door looking for help and support in their grief.
A funeral director bent to pick some flowers from a collection for a loved one to press and I saw a chain of flowers in my heart. As we support each soul who comes into our care, links flow around their loved ones. A circle of links for a moment in time.
Our lives are built from memorable links whether they be circles in time or chains that grow. We may not know when the first link was created, yet we come to treasure the circles and chains.
There is love in every link. 💛