What she taught us
Eliza brought huge gifts: unprecedented amounts of love and deeper family connections and friendships, and the opportunity to grow massively in terms of personal and spiritual understanding.
This is the piece my sister wrote for Eliza and read to her at her funeral. It sums up so many things, including what Liza has taught us, and continues to teach us every day.
This is the piece my sister wrote for Eliza and read to her at her funeral. It sums up so many things, including what Liza has taught us, and continues to teach us every day.
Darling Eliza,
There are so many things that we would have wanted to say to you. Things we wanted to do with you, moments we wanted to share. It seems so unfair that you have been taken from out of our physical world so soon after you joined us. The magical moments that many of us here shared with you during your brief stay will be treasured as a special glimpse of the wonderful person you are to us. Daughter, grandchild and niece. My little niece.
We all have so many imaginings of your life that it makes it hard to let go. For me, your Auntie Polly, I knew that we were going to get up to so much mischief. I wanted to dance with you, go swimming with you, to stop you crying by pulling silly faces. I wanted to dig in the garden with you, to make imaginary stories together.
I wanted to be the aunt you can talk to, you laugh with, the one who'll give you sweets 'but don't tell mum and dad'. The one who'll teach you to make a bird noise by blowing through grass. The one who'll give you a sip of wine before you're old enough. I wanted to teach you everything I knew.
I never imagined that it would in fact be you teaching us so much in such a short time.
You have taught us all what a miracle nature is; how complicated and how fragile. You have taught us all what it is to truly cherish and love those around us; how delicate each person's existence is. Through our love for you we are all connected. You have opened the hearts of all who hear your story and allowed us to talk freely with one another about what really matters in life.
You are part of life's rich tapestry, and just like a butterfly, you have come with beauty to stun us all before returning to the earth, before returning to the circle of life, that will bring you back to us through the flowers, in the breeze, in the rains and in the sunshine. You will always be with us for the rest of our lives on earth. We will carry you with us in our hearts through all that we do. When we walk to the shops, you will be by our sides. When we laugh at a funny joke, that joy will be shared with you. When we see other children, we will think of you with love. Your spirit is always with us.
To me, you are all ages. You are pure and wise, with knowledge beyond our own. You are the stars in the sky and the wind in the trees. I can't wait to dance with you in the fields, dig the garden with you, to sing songs with you.
And next time, I'm in a sweet shop, I'll put one in my pocket just for you.
We love you Eliza Lilly and though it may have been short, we celebrate and thank you for your life.
There are so many things that we would have wanted to say to you. Things we wanted to do with you, moments we wanted to share. It seems so unfair that you have been taken from out of our physical world so soon after you joined us. The magical moments that many of us here shared with you during your brief stay will be treasured as a special glimpse of the wonderful person you are to us. Daughter, grandchild and niece. My little niece.
We all have so many imaginings of your life that it makes it hard to let go. For me, your Auntie Polly, I knew that we were going to get up to so much mischief. I wanted to dance with you, go swimming with you, to stop you crying by pulling silly faces. I wanted to dig in the garden with you, to make imaginary stories together.
I wanted to be the aunt you can talk to, you laugh with, the one who'll give you sweets 'but don't tell mum and dad'. The one who'll teach you to make a bird noise by blowing through grass. The one who'll give you a sip of wine before you're old enough. I wanted to teach you everything I knew.
I never imagined that it would in fact be you teaching us so much in such a short time.
You have taught us all what a miracle nature is; how complicated and how fragile. You have taught us all what it is to truly cherish and love those around us; how delicate each person's existence is. Through our love for you we are all connected. You have opened the hearts of all who hear your story and allowed us to talk freely with one another about what really matters in life.
You are part of life's rich tapestry, and just like a butterfly, you have come with beauty to stun us all before returning to the earth, before returning to the circle of life, that will bring you back to us through the flowers, in the breeze, in the rains and in the sunshine. You will always be with us for the rest of our lives on earth. We will carry you with us in our hearts through all that we do. When we walk to the shops, you will be by our sides. When we laugh at a funny joke, that joy will be shared with you. When we see other children, we will think of you with love. Your spirit is always with us.
To me, you are all ages. You are pure and wise, with knowledge beyond our own. You are the stars in the sky and the wind in the trees. I can't wait to dance with you in the fields, dig the garden with you, to sing songs with you.
And next time, I'm in a sweet shop, I'll put one in my pocket just for you.
We love you Eliza Lilly and though it may have been short, we celebrate and thank you for your life.