Gratitude

In Life's harshest times, we learn the simplest truths...

As our world collapsed pulling us down into its depths of despair, grief and mourning, it is you, our friends and family who have held us...helped us...pulled us up...and continue to keep pulling us up...

The one feeling that breaks through the all-encompassing, crippling, mind-numbing grief is, overwhelming Gratitude...

To friends who have become  family and family who have become friends...our heartfelt Gratitude...

For your presence, for coming from near and far, for the tears you shared with us, for the times you held us as we crumbled...for holding our hands in every sense, for the warmth and love that came our way overcoming time and distances that separated us, but couldn't diminish the bonds we shared...for the phone calls...and also for understanding when I couldn't get myself to take those calls...for the heartfelt messages, for the visits, for the space, for the time, for being there and letting us know...for checking in on us, for helpful distractions which came in the form of forwards, everyday good morning messages...for shared news items, for books and journals...for the innocuous conversations...for random stories to elicit laughter from us...for pictures and descriptions of places and pets...for engaging anecdotes...for shared memories...for the 'you are in our thoughts' messages, for messages that felt like hugs...for hugs that gave us the assurance that we can pull through...we needed them all without ever knowing we did...

As the hands of Time relentlessly moved from minutes to hours, to days, to weeks and today to months...All this while, we felt that Time should have stood still...to that Time before things fell apart..we felt as if Time stood still...we wished Time had stood still before things fell apart...and yet...Time relentlessly moves...You helped us to stay still when we needed that, helped us move, when that was required and guided us to set our own timelines...for understanding that our physical and mental Time lines have somehow changed...for being with us in those moments of despair, despondency, anxiety and all else...for encouraging us to be brave and strong...for letting us cry our hearts out, when we wanted to...for comfortable silences...for words that comforted...for being present...and being there for us from wherever you are...for every thing...from all of you...from each one of you...it meant a lot...it all means a lot...it all means everything...

To each and everyone of you, our sincerest Gratitude for being with us...I have no other words other than a heartfelt Thank you...Immense Gratitude 🙏🙏🙏