The Sock that Made Me Cry
Listen to this post on my podcast: Journal with Jenny
When you experience a difficult transition, you never know what’s going trigger an emotion that’s hiding just beneath the surface.
A couple weeks ago, my Mom had been sick, so I picked up Dad’s laundry from the nursing home to do it at my house. As I was folding it, I noticed that Dad’s sock had his name on it:
M E L
I held the sock to my mouth as a sob bubbled up.
Then I looked at his shirts:
M E L
Tears began to stream as I looked through his clothes...all of them had his name M E L written on them. Just for a moment, my sadness escaped until I folded it up along with Dad’s clothes.
Emotions can slam into you quickly...one second you can be absent-mindedly folding laundry and the next moment you’re in tears. You know it’s there - a sadness in your chest - but it doesn’t dominate your thoughts or feelings throughout the day. Normally, you’re not very emotional, but then you’re folding socks, and it hits you.
What are some difficult situations you’ve experienced?
Write about them and any times your feelings popped up unexpectedly.
When Dad first went to the nursing home nine months ago, Mom refused to have his name attached to his clothes. It would make it permanent, and she was holding out that he would come home. The transition has been hard on everyone, but the transition has been hardest on my parents, of course. Seeing his name written on his clothes - M E L - made it permanent. Forever. A reminder in black and white that he will never get to live at home again.
When going through a big change or difficult transition or a loss, when did life show you - this is real and nothing will ever be the same?
The last time I visited Dad, he said as I was leaving, “I really want to go home.” It’s something he says almost every time I’m there, but he quickly accepts that he can’t come home after we talk about it. I think he just needs to say it - for us to know that’s where he wants to be and for him to hear that’s where we want him… but we all have to accept it’s not possible now.
Watching my parents get older, supporting them, and seeing how reluctantly but lovingly they accept transitions has been a lesson and a heartbreak all folded into one...as most life lessons are.
Writing has helped. It’s helped me write out the feelings to see the light and the learnings. There is no book for how to navigate many things in life, so I’m writing my own, and it’s gotten me through a lot of tough situations with grace.
JOURNAL PROMPT
Write about what you have learned about yourself, your faith, and your relationships when life hasn’t gone as planned.
How did this situation help you grow or make you a better person?
Did it strengthen your faith or relationships?
***This post was approved by my mom. I try to be mindful of what I write about others. Even though other people are part of my story, I would never want to cross any boundaries with what they are comfortable with me sharing. Mom and I both hope my writing can help others going through similar life changes.
Please comment below to let me know what you wrote about or learned from this post. I would love to hear from you!
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