Moments

The loving and peaceful moments sustain us in the turbulence of life.

On Monday I arrived at a beautiful crematorium in a country setting just as the service before us were leaving the chapel. I spotted a lovely fellow celebrant chatting with the family under her care, so I slipped into the chapel to avoid disturbing them. As the team and I made our preparations, just knowing she had been there before me was comforting and we managed a quick messaging catch-up a few days later.

My Mum gifted me a 'hair do' for my birthday and my usual hairdresser is beset with technical problems. My hair was too long after our wedding, and I was struggling to keep it neat, so I Googled for a different hairdresser. My usual routine is to ask for many layers, as that suits my fine hair, and a body wave perm to hold everything in place. This hairdresser is in a village, in a purpose-built salon surrounded by a lovely garden. Thick snow and ice lay on the ground and her salon is cosy, and you can watch the birds feeding. For once, I let go and trusted. I gave her a brief explanation and let her decide and a peaceful few hours followed. My phone was in my handbag and the salon was calm. No music playing and what bliss that was. I got to chat a little with the few ladies there and my hairdresser and I had a lovely natter about our families and interests. One lady was wearing hand-knitted socks and I discovered a kindred spirit. My hair is now swinging at chin level, not layered and so easy to manage. I left the salon feeling blessed and Tim loves it.

I worked with a new funeral director this week from a connection made through a friend. He is a young soul in years on earth, an old soul in spirit, and a gift to anyone grieving. He has a gentle, loving nature and flows professionally ensuring everything goes smoothly. We stood side by side afterwards and in his hands, he held some lovingly crafted service sheets tied with ribbon as a gift for our family. He admitted he is always crafting loving touches for the families he cares for. Working alongside him and his loving team was special, and that service held many moments I will not forget.

Standing outside a chapel, hand in hand with a lady who had just said her loving farewells to her husband, I asked her to look up. After the recent snow, the sky was bright blue and filled with angel-feather clouds. She asked me which cloud I thought was her husband, and I replied, 'All of them.' 💙