Twinges of Sadness

Do you know how sometimes the feelings that arise from just a passing reference of a loved one who has passed away can catch you off guard?  Do you know that sharp twinge of sadness that seemingly comes out of nowhere? 

I had one of those twinges just a moment ago.  You see, many years ago, I signed up with an email service that tells me two weeks before a birthday or holiday.  I got an email alert this morning.  Sadly, that alert is for a high school best friend who passed away from cancer last year.  He was diagnosed and just a month later was gone, leaving a wife and three young children - the youngest being just 8 months old.

The same twinge comes when I am alerted of my grandma's birthday (and any of my grandparents' birthdays). 

Why don't I just remove them from my alerts?  Well, I thought about  doing that a few weeks back.  One obstacle I had was actually logging in (I hadn't tried in at least 8 years).  As I struggled to remember my log-in information, I realized  I didn't want to undo the reminders. 

I didn't want to forget their birthdays.  In spite of the twinges of sadness,  those little reminders have been a great way to jog my memory.  I can spend a few minutes just remembering and being truly thankful for having them in my life.  I treasure those times of sadness and remembering.  I leave those times feeling wrapped in love.

What causes those twinges in you?