Today is Freddie Mercury’s birthday.
He would have been 73.
SEVENTY THREE!
While I would love to hear what he was creating if he were alive today, maybe it is dying so young that has made him immortal?
Immortality is an interesting one.
Because while it doesn’t exist in physical form, it does in terms of emotions and memories.
Or so I thought …
This post is about a story that came up on my Facebook feed from years ago that had made a huge impression on me when I first encountered it.
It’s the story of a mother who lost her son to a brain tumour and then – by pure chance – met the young man who had been given his heart.
It is beautiful, loving and heartbreakingly sad all at the same time, especially the last 5 words of the story.
You can read it at the bottom of this post.
However, when it first came out, I wasn’t a father and so reading it again as the proud Dad of an energetic 4 year old, meant the effect it had on me has been even more powerful.
I have a better understanding of what Freda Carter must have felt.
How meeting the boy who lived because her son sadly passed, let her once again feel close to her precious son.
No anger … no bitterness or resentment … just a chance to have one last chance with someone who has gone.
Apart from being a deeply emotional story, I think I connected to it deeply because I had lost my parents and even now, would do anything to have one more moment with them.
But now I’m a Dad, well … it gives me anguish just thinking about it.
And that’s why I have even more respect for Andy and his wife.
Without going into too much detail, they faced an unbelievably scary situation when their beautiful daughter Bonnie was very young.
While many would fall apart, they handled everything with utter grace and calm.
No anger.
No blame.
No pity.
Of course they were scared and I know behind the glare of their daughters, doctors, friends and families eyes, there were many tears and fears shared … but they were absolutely focused and resolute on ensuring their daughter was in an environment of love, calmness and compassion and they ensured everyone they knew had to abide by those rules.
At the time I think everyone understood their wishes but were concerned they were adding even more pressure on themselves, however now that time has passed and Bonnie is brilliantly well, I see the strength of character and love that drove them forward.
I hope I am never in the situation they faced.
But if I am, they would be the inspiration for how to best deal with it.
As would Freda Carter.
Ensuring the focus is on loving what is precious, not hating what you can’t control.
