The Wren

Nanny and Tookie

A few days before my sister, Janice, lost her fight with bile duct cancer (very rare) a wren began singing from a tree very near the house. (Hearing a wren's song is apparently a rare occurrence in this part of Calgary.)

I never did see this bird, but its beautiful song greeted us each morning and I joked with Janice that it was singing just for her.  Janice smiled and said, "I know." On the Thursday Janice took her last breaths on this earth, I do not remember hearing the wren, nor have I heard it since. 

I believe the wren was sent to take Janice's soul to Heaven. I will listen more carefully to the early morning birdsong, just in case.

My big sister was an amazingly talented woman, in many different ways, and I miss her more each day.  She was one of my first teachers, but it has been over the past three years that her lesson have been most powerful. Her courage and attitude throughout her illness was humbling.  Not once did her will to survive flag and she was often the one offering words of encouragement and hope to the rest of us. Janice showed me (again and again) how important it is to laugh and create simple memories. She showed us such grace and spirit when faced with insurmountable odds. Her compassion for others was boundless. 

And so, as I move forward (as we all must), I know I am a better person because of her.  Never again will I take a relationship for granted. I will tell the people in my life how valued they are and do everything in my power to make my small corner of the world a better place. I will look for and appreciate the little miracles in each day. I will stop, listen, and smile.