Sept 24, 2024 — If you’ve had a glorious day filled with fun and laughter, you might want to just file this edition of the Cardie Newsletter away to read another day. If, on the other hand, you’re with me in needing a good cry, right this way.
We’re nearing the end of September, National Suicide Prevention Month, but we’re sadly nowhere near preventing suicide. Last week, one of our most beloved Cardie Community members emailed to let us know, “My sister’s husband shot himself this week, leaving behind my niece, who just turned five, and her little brother, three. While I am worried about my sister, of course, I want to share with you a potential new sympathy card message that might help grieving families like ours: A cousin just wrote to us from another state, ‘Our fervent prayers and aching hearts … remain with you.’”
Hurting for this much-loved family and marveling that this Cardie somehow had the wherewithal to consider the greater good she might do by sharing with this community, we quickly matched that poignant message with an image and have 100 printed in time for the funeral service over the weekend. We will release it as a new design later this year.
Thinking of what lies ahead for the heartbroken loved ones left behind brought to mind a powerful poem that Contributing Cardie Judy Cortner wrote and sent to me 18 months ago when her dear friend and housemate passed away. Eunice died of natural causes, and I’d called Judy to see how she was getting along. She didn’t pick up the phone or reach back out to me as she was honoring her emotions and beautifully channeling her grief. May her wise words soothe us all in our saddest days.
Well, Jodee, grief is living with me now.
he has lived with me before.
we are old friends,
having been companions
several times before this.
i know his ways.
i now welcome him.
“hello friend, come in.”
he gives me a hug, sits down
and stays for a time.
in the beginning, he will
visit often, sometimes
staying the night.
he will leave after
a bit, but he will always
come back.
i realized this time WHY
i stay at home and do not
speak on the phone much
when he is here.
i have a guest and i
do not want to leave
him alone as we
have much to share.
i did go to the coffee shop
a couple of days ago and
left him to sleep in.
he was hurt, as he wants
to go with me everywhere.
he is like that.
i will be in touch when he leaves.
Sept 24, 2024 — If you’ve had a glorious day filled with fun and laughter, you might want to just file this edition of the Cardie Newsletter away to read another day. If, on the other hand, you’re with me in needing a good cry, right this way.
We’re nearing the end of September, National Suicide Prevention Month, but we’re sadly nowhere near preventing suicide. Last week, one of our most beloved Cardie Community members emailed to let us know, “My sister’s husband shot himself this week, leaving behind my niece, who just turned five, and her little brother, three. While I am worried about my sister, of course, I want to share with you a potential new sympathy card message that might help grieving families like ours: A cousin just wrote to us from another state, ‘Our fervent prayers and aching hearts … remain with you.’”
Hurting for this much-loved family and marveling that this Cardie somehow had the wherewithal to consider the greater good she might do by sharing with this community, we quickly matched that poignant message with an image and have 100 printed in time for the funeral service over the weekend. We will release it as a new design later this year.
Thinking of what lies ahead for the heartbroken loved ones left behind brought to mind a powerful poem that Contributing Cardie Judy Cortner wrote and sent to me 18 months ago when her dear friend and housemate passed away. Eunice died of natural causes, and I’d called Judy to see how she was getting along. She didn’t pick up the phone or reach back out to me as she was honoring her emotions and beautifully channeling her grief. May her wise words soothe us all in our saddest days.
Gentle grace and tender comfort to the family grieving this death by suicide. And to each life impacted in any way by suicide, know my love and prayers are with you.
And Judy – that writing is so powerful – explaining abstract concepts in relatable ways. Thank you for sharing your heart and your words.
How like you to create a special card for an impossibly hard situation! ALL your cards fit aspects of life perfectly. I am so grateful Cardthartic is in the world. Blessings .
Judy Cortner’s description of grief is incredible. I feel her message in my inner soul. I too have been there. Wishing her the greatest of thanks for sharing her love.
I feel,so saddened by what so many have and are going through.
Having lost two adult children and my husband in less than four years between all:- hearts are shattered at times.
Judy Cortner, what a poignant and humanizing way to look at grief! It sounds like a much healthier alternative than running and keeping busy to keep from dealing with great loss. Thank you for showing us that grief is as much a part of life as joy is and that this friend will know when it’s time to leave…
Thank you for your kindness and grace in this families time of unimaginable heartbreak and sending these cards Of comfort.
Also appreciate the beautiful poem about grief.😔❤️❤️
I love so many of your cards but it’s the grief and sympathy cards that say just just the right thing but are not wordy, just to the point and perfect. The card I seem to always run out of is the old men sitting on a bench, watching the world go by.
“One of the good guys gone, never to be forgotten”. So simple, so true.
Prayers for all.
I have no words…….so am sending a large hug to this family – I feel their ache of loss…….can only imagine the pain – am here, as ever (still trying to find a face shot) – mourning Judy’s loss as well – wishing I could reach out and, somehow, help.
I empathize for all those in pain from the loss of a loved one for any cause and most intensely I feel for those whose loved one chose to leave this often challenging world. My heart breaks for the two young children who will wish as they grow older that Daddy stayed with them. Clearly, I am seeing it that way through the eyes of a child not based on the reasons that drive people to take that path. My heart is heavy for this family’s loss. God Bless them all.
I’m devastated for that family & their loss. A dr. Friend said when he lost a nephew to suicide “he had a disease & it was terminal.” Judy’s poem is spot on & one I can relate to. When I hear Elton John’s your song, I stop in my tracks & grieve for my brother all over again. There’s no timeline for grief.
My heart aches for this family. Unimaginable pain.
Judy Cortner’s words have sat with me since you first shared them in a newsletter. Beautifully written.
Sending my heartfelt love and prayers to your beloved Cardie and her family as they face the tragic loss of her brother-in-law. May they be comforted during this devastating time with love and peace. And what joy you must have brought to your dear friend with your thoughtful gift of love. You not only made her dream a reality by creating a new sympathy card with the very words that have sustained her through her family’s tragedy, but you also had printed 100 copies of this new design so they were available in time for the funeral. You are absolutely amazing because this is not a random act on your part, but the way you live your life with an heart overflowing with love for others!! You are a continual blessing to me!! And thank you for your thoughtfulness to your Newsletter readers by sharing the amazing words of Judy Cortner for us to ponder.
I must add that because of grief, I made the wonderful discovery of Cardthartic Cards which I have been so grateful for ever since. In my search for a meaningful sympathy card to send to my family when one of our relatives died, there was absolutely nothing that touched my heart. One day, while searching online, there it was, the perfect card. I quickly placed an order and was so thrilled to share a card that the our family could immediately identify with our dear relative. Not long after, my adored cousin was gone. He had assumed the role of family patriarch when the last of our family’s first generation greats passed. His children were inconsolable. I had to do something; but what!! I found the answer at Cardthartic with the discovery of an unbelievably fitting expression of understanding which his children tell me they cherish to this day. Cardthartic is SPECIAL!! I believe this is so because it is a reflection of the special love and understanding of people possessed by Cardthartic’s creator.
Thank you, Jodee, for all your wonderful creations, as well as those of the growing number of talented Contributing Cardies, that fill the bill for every occasion!! 💖💖