Tomorrow would be Luis' birthday. We still talk about Luis often at our house. I don't think Riley will ever forget his first friend. I don't think Eric and I will every forget his huge smile. Even Trey seems to remember him. His picture sits in on our kitchen counter and hangs in the hallway upstairs.
I've thought about his mother, Joy, often this week. Riley woke up on Friday morning not feeling well. He came to me in the kitchen while I was making breakfast and said, "Mommy, did Luis die when he was six." He was only six, and my little six year old was scared that because he didn't feel well, maybe he was going to die when he was six. I thought about the huge hole that would be in my heart forever if anything ever happened to any of my children. The whole in Joy's heart will never be filled by anything or anyone else.
Some things I will never be able to understand. Luis dying a little over two years ago is one of those things.
Here's the post I wrote the day after Luis died. I'm posting it again now as a tribute to a little boy that isn't here to celebrate his 9th birthday. Pray with me today for Luis and his family.
January 5, 2006
Yesterday afternoon I saw something I never want to see again, the face of a mother who has lost her child. I remember the look on my mom's face when we knew there was a chance my brother would die, but there was still hope in her eyes. I saw Joy at the hospital on Monday, and although she was a wreck, she was still clinging to the hope of a miracle. Yesterday I watched her come back home without her son, and I'll never forget the look on her face. She could hardly walk, and was leaning on her niece for support. She was weeping and her eyes were blank, hopeless.We are grieving too, missing Luis already. I had to tell Riley yesterday without Eric, he knew something was wrong. When I told him he said, "But he's my friend." He wanted to know if people come back after they die. When I told him they didn't he said, "But I want him to come back." We talked about what a good friend Luis was and how we'll never forget him. He came back throughout the day with questions--"Why didn't the doctors give him medicine?"--"Why do people die?"
When Eric came home from work last night and the kids were in bed we sat in our room and talked about memories of Luis. It was good to talk about him with Eric.
Luis taught Riley that the trees on the side of our house were more than just trees, they were a jungle.
Luis taught Riley that the slide in the backyard wasn't just for sliding down, but also for climbing up.
Luis said the pizza I made was the best he'd ever had--whole wheat crust, soy cheese, and tomato sauce--I think he just liked to see me smile.
Luis picked me more dandelions than I can count.
He loved to eat dinner with us.
He loved to come over when our community gathered, especially if Nora Bell was going to be there.
He told me at the beginning of this school year, "I don't like recess. I'd much rather be inside reading."
One of my favorite Luis lines of all time--"Riley, if your new baby is a girl and she's hot when she grows up, can I marry her?"
The last time I saw him healthy was Christmas Eve. We were opening stockings with my family when there was a knock at the door. Luis came in with a little basket of candy and a Christmas card.
The last thing I said to him at the hospital--"Luis, I love you."
Our family has been changed for the better by the life of Luis. We've learned a lot from him. He's been part of our life in Grandview since the day we moved in.
Luis would have so much fun with Riley and your family. Luis would always come home bragging about what he did.
Thank you for this post.
God bless.
Jenni Sieg said...
1:00 PM
has it really been 2 years? unreal. thank you for reminding me to remember.
Anonymous said...
3:17 PM
ughh, that was from mandy fez
Anonymous said...
3:17 PM