THAT THIS, TOO, WAS A GIFT

THAT THIS, TOO, WAS A GIFT A lovely letter from Julie from San Francisco came in to my husband’s Red hand Files. Thank you so much, Julie, for your kind words and this stunning poem. Who doesn’t love a bit of Mary Oliver on a Sunday morning! And so true that one of the deeply mystifying and frightening complexities of grief is that it holds within its darkness the potential for great joy. Love Susie. x


Dear Nick, I am writing to share a poem with you and Susie that gave me chills. It is brief and simple, yet profound. In looking towards the past, I find that the poem applies perfectly to certain periods of my life. As always, thank you for this avenue of communication and the beautiful and generous way you use it. Thanks also to Susie for her wonderful, inspiring Stuff Page. Love, Julie 


The Uses of Sorrow
By Mary Oliver
(In my sleep I dreamed this poem)
Someone I loved once gave
me
a box full of darkness.
It took me years to
understand
that this, too, was a gift.
that this, too, was a gift.