Letting Go

shared by Wendy Howlett,
Jacob's Mommy

Hi! I am Surviving Single SIDS Mommy. I have access to e-mail where I work & I sent out a message to all staff letting them know that this was SIDS Awareness Month. Unfortunately SIDS is not a frequently discussed topic where I live, even the local state wide SIDS Program didn't know this was SIDS Awareness Month. Anyway, in my message I asked everyone to keep in mind the thousands of families that are devastated by this tragedy each year & included my own family who lost Jacob Robert Howlett on Sept. 16, 1996 at 11 weeks of age. I got back a great deal of response. I also got this poem. I remember being at this stage & hope that if someone out there is still at this stage that it will help!

Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998

Letting Go

A woman had a child, a sweet and loving son
But now he's up in heaven, his time with god's begun.

His time on earth was joyous and brief,
And now she's suffering pain & grief.

Is he happy, is he safe, these are all her fears
And every day she thinks of him and sheds so many tears.

But then one night in her deepest sleep
Into her dreams a vision did creep.

A look past heaven's pearly gate
To catch a glimpse of her son's fate.

Thousands of young people were passing by
A great white thrown set way up high.

Though others were joyous in this procession
His face was downcast in depression.

They all carried candles as bright as the sun
But he walked in the shadows, the only one.

His mother stared in disbelief,
Overcome with sadness & with grief.

"Why is it son, that they see fit,
To make you march with candle unlit?"

"They often relight it, they often try,
But your tears put it out every time you cry."

His mother awoke and knew in her heart,
It was time to let go & make a new start.

Author: Mike Lizonitz