Patrick leaned over the gate, viewing the landscape, and the pleasant green fields that made up his farmland. He was approaching seventy, and had decided to retire and hand over the farm to his eldest son. It was a beautiful productive farm that had kept his family going for generations, through thick and thin, bad times and good inside the farmland, and also in society.
As Patrick looked out over the land he pondered on the brevity of life, and how he had arrived at this point so quickly. Life had been good for him in parts, but he had lost his beloved wife five years ago, and it had knocked the stuffing out of him,he missed her still even though his children were all good to him, but what was ahead of him now, for without her he was going it alone, without his ‘soul’ companion?
Bereavement counselling had helped him to pick up and go on, but he still felt the lost of Violet in every aspect of living, funny he thought, how little society appeared to value widows, and widowers, and were not very respectful, of the many skills they had acquired through life, and the wisdom they had accumulated through experience.
The old song ‘Walk on through the night’ came to mind as he stood there, it had been a favourite of both of them , sung at their wedding, the kind of song that was imbued with hope and soared through the rafters of the hall. If only I could sing it now Patrick thought! It seemed good to remember that after the night came the morning and the songs of the birds and nature’s beauty, and of course the work of his hands.
The word retirement seems like such a sad word, yet Patrick realised he had one last fight on his hands to look to the future and to allow the ending of retirement to open new doors of service to his family and to the community. He would celebrate and walk on finding doors and opportunities for himself and be thankful for his family’s love.
TO BE CONTINUED!
aoibheann thoughtful reflections 