A Letter
to My Son,
The Light
of my Life
Dearest Cory,
It has been
almost a year since I last touched your face, and felt the wonderful hugs
you were so famous for giving. For me in some ways it has been an
eternity, and in others, just yesterday. I try to picture you now,
in all of your radiant glory, and try to find peace in that vision, but
it only lasts a short while. When you left this earth, for your new
home in Heaven, along with you, you took my heart. Never does a day
go by that you are not the first thing that I think of when I awake, and
you are my last thought of the day. You are always uppermost in my
mind, and I talk with you, as if you were standing right by my side.
I like to think that you are. I hope that you can hear the words
of your mother's heart, as that is the only thing that keeps me going,
knowing that you are alive and well, and waiting for the day, that we can
again be united, and know again, the feeling of pure joy.
My life will
never be the same. The days of carefree joy are gone. I now
live in a world of shattered hopes and broken dreams. What I would
give to just hear you laugh, and to be able to touch you one more time.
We were not given that chance, and so there is a longing in my heart that
will never go away. Your body has left this world, but as long as
your spirit is carried in my heart, as long as I live, you will live also.
Your life here on earth had meaning, and I have made it my personal quest
to keep your memory alive, by trying to give to others what I can, to help
them down this long, lonely road of grief. It is in your honor that
I do this, not mine. You are the one that deserves merit, not me,
you always gave so freely of yourself to anyone who was in need.
There was no one that was not your friend, if that is what they were looking
for. That is why you are so loved and missed by so many. I
am so proud to be your Mom. Parents are supposed to teach children,
but son, you taught Mom so much too. You taught me that life is indeed
precious, and that every moment counts. You taught me to not take life
so seriously, and to live in the moment, instead of always worrying about
tomorrow. You taught me strength, and belief in myself, when I had
none. Last of all but certainly not least you taught me what it is to love
unconditionally. You always went the extra mile, and in doing so,
you have no idea how many lives you touched in your short time on this
earth. You are loved and missed by so many sweetheart.
There are times,
as I now hold your precious baby boy, that I am transported back in time,
to a life of joy and contentment that I knew as I rocked and held you as
a child. There is a connection between a mother and a child that
even death can never take away. It is funny how life works, I always
thought that my job on this earth, was to be your mom, your number one
fan, to share in all your joys, sorrows, and triumphs, and now I no longer
have that privilege. I often wonder what work God needed you for
so badly, that it required a mother with a broken heart. Why did
he have to take my only child?
Thank you Cory,
for being the wonderful and caring person that you are, for giving me the
opportunity to be your Mom and to for giving me the most precious years
of my life. They will be forever treasured memories, and you continue
to live on in my heart. I love you more than words can say, I miss you
with every breath I take. May your spirit soar, my son, my precious
child, as you continue to be the wind beneath my wings.
Love Forever,
Mom
THANK YOU TO
"MY MOM IS A SURVIVOR"
FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL
AWARD
(OCTOBER ~
2001)
PLEASE VISIT
~MY
MOM IS A SURVIVOR~
~CORY'S
PHOTO ALBUM~
OUR PRECIOUS
SON, WAS SIX MONTHS OLD IN THIS PHOTO.
NOW HE HAS
HIS OWN SON, CORY MICHAEL JR. WHO WAS BORN
TWO MONTHS
AFTER CORY'S DEATH, ON OCTOBER 21, 1999.
THIS IS OUR
PRECIOUS ANGEL,
CORY MICHAEL
GRIFFIN JR.
HE IS OUR MOST
PRECIOUS GIFT
FROM OUR SON,
AND HIS WIFE TRACI,
AND WE THANK
GOD FOR HIM EVERY DAY.
HE HAS CAPTURED
OUR HEARTS FOREVER,
HE IS OUR
BEACON OF LIGHT,
AND OUR HOPE
FOR TOMORROW.
THIS IS ONE
OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS OF CORY AS A CHILD.
HE IS 6 IN
THIS PICTURE, AND THAT SMILE
STAYED WITH
HIM THROUGHOUT HIS ADULT LIFE.
WE MISS YOU
SO, SWEETHEART.
THIS IS OUR
SON AT THE AGE OF 13. HE WAS ALREADY DISPLAYING SUCH PROMISE, AS
HE HAD ALREADY RECEIVED MANY AWARDS AND MEDALS AT THE DISTRICT AND
STATE LEVELS FOR HIS WONDERFUL VOICE, AND SINGING TALENT.
HE TOOK 1st
IN STATE FOR A SOLO THAT HE PERFORMED THERE.
HE WAS ALSO
VERY ACTIVE IN PERFORMING ARTS, DRAMA, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, BUT HE NEVER GAVE
UP ON HIS PASSION FOR
BOOKS, AND
WRITING SHORT STORIES.
AS HE GREW
OLDER HE BECAME INTERESTED ALSO IN CARS,
AND HOCKEY,
AS HE WAS A NUMBER #1 FAN OF THE
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS.
HIS INTEREST
IN MUSIC CONTINUED TO BE ONE OF HIS
DEAREST PURSUITS,
AND GARTH BROOKS WAS HIS
FAVORITE ALL
TIME SINGER.
WE ARE SO VERY
PROUD OF YOU CORY,
YOU ARE OUR
SHINING STAR.
THIS WAS THE
LAST FAMILY PICTURE TAKEN OF CORY
AT HIS WEDDING
IN 1997.
THE HAPPINESS
WE SHARED THAT DAY
WILL BE FOREVER
A TREASURED MEMORY.
THIS PHOTO
WAS TAKEN AT THE CAR SHOW
IN CHICAGO,
ILLINOIS.
CORY HAD A
LOVE FOR CARS FROM THE TIME HE LEARNED WHAT
WHEELS WERE.
WE WENT THROUGH SO MANY BIG WHEELS, CARS AND TRUCKS, THAT WE LOST COUNT.
UNFORTUNATELY
THIS IS ALSO HOW WE LOST HIM.
~LETTER
FROM HEAVEN~
~Author Unknown~
To my dearest
family, some things I'd like to say
But first
of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing
this from Heaven,
Here I dwell
with God above.
Here, there's
no more tears of sadness;
Here is just
eternal love.
Please do
not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight,
Remember that
I am with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I
had to leave you, when my life one earth was through,
God picked
me up and hugged and He said, "I welcome you.
It's good
to have you back again,
You were missed
while you were gone.
As for your
dearest family,
They'll be
here later on.
There's so
much that we have to do to help our mortal man.
God gave me
a list of things, that he wished for me to do,
And foremost
on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you
lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight,
God and I
are closest to you....in the midde of the night.
When you think
of my life on earth, and all those loving years,
Because you
are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not
be afraid to cry: it does relieve the pain,
Remember there
would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.
I wish that
I could tell you all that God has planned,
If I were
to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing
is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er,
I'm closer
to you now, than I ever was before.
There are many
rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
But together
we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always
my philosophy and I'd like it for you too;
That as you
give unto the world, the world will give to you.
If you can
help somebody who's in sorrow and pain;
Then you can
say to God at night...."My day was not in vain."
And now I
am content....that my life was worthwhile.
Knowing as
I passed along the way I made somebody smile.
So if you meet
somebody who is sad and feeling low;
Just lend
a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When your
walking down the street
and you've
got me on your mind;
I'm walking
in your footsteps, only a step behind.
And when it's
time for you to go....from that body to be free,
Remember you're
not going....you're coming home to Me.
This poem is
written and dedicated to my precious son Cory,
on the second
anniversary of his passing,
8-30-2001.
~PRECIOUS MOMENTS~
I was as a
child, tottering, stumbling through life
Trying so
hard to run,
before learning
how to find balance
Running from
the pain,
thinking that
if I could just get to the other side,
I could look
back
and not have
to remember how I got there.
Just as a painting
by a great master
Life began
to unfold
with each
brush stroke of His hand
Using life’s
precious moments,
creating a
colorful palette
From which
I could choose.
The chocolate
kiss of my grandson
The touch
of my husband’s hand on my shoulder
The painting
from my granddaughter
that hangs
proudly
Helping grandma
not to be sick anymore.
The phone calls
from loved ones and friends
The glory
of a beautiful sunrise
The solitary
rose that bloomed in the garden
The castle
that I built today in the sand.
These are my
precious moments
From which
I rebuild my life each day
May I turn
around and see, the wonder of life
Still gently
surrounds me.
©JODY
SEILHEIMER
PLEASE DO
NOT TAKE WITHOUT PERMISSION
After
the death of my child, I found myself looking at life in a totally different
light. Life is not about the perfect home, or the highest position on the
career track, not even about raising successful children. It is not about
being all to everyone, or needing to accept the guidelines of what others
deem success in life. Life is made up of moments, little moments that may
seem inconsequential at the time, but over the years will say to us, "Yes
I lived, and I was loved.
When my sadness
did not allow for happy days any longer, I thought okay, this is like learning
to walk all over again, taking step by step. My steps became the little
things that I could find throughout the day, that touched my soul, and
reminded me that these moments were my life now. With God’s grace if I
continued to take the little steps, then maybe someday I could turn around,
and look at how far I had come, and in the meantime, never missing a precious
moment, to put in the scrapbook of my life.
My son started
my collection of "Precious Moments" many years ago, and I never realized
how important they would soon become. Now as I look at each and every little
figurine, my mind goes back to the memory held by each one. He was telling
me then, that life is just Precious Moments, create them, take them, and
cherish them, and in time you will have a wealth of memories that will
sustain you, during the difficult times of life. I am sure that he did
not realize the gifts he was giving me then, would be the one thing that
would help me through my darkest hour, then again maybe he did.
Thank you Cory,
for every
"Precious
Moment" of your life.
