my new necklace

becca-garber-necklace-julia

On July 7th, I woke up to find a little white box addressed to me by the kitchen sink.  This beautiful necklace was inside: three rings on a gold chain.  The gift was from my three sisters-in-law (Eden, Jess, and Erika) and it was given on the occasion of the first anniversary of my sister Julia’s death.

I haven’t said anything about this anniversary or the painful ache of missing Julia on here, even though these things were very much on my mind recently.  I wish I had some brilliant and articulate post to write about grief and missing Julia, but I don’t.  I just miss her.  Maybe wise words will come eventually… but for now, I feel empty and sad.  I often go back to my dad’s words about thankfulness in the midst of grief.

This necklace means so much coming from my three Garber sisters, and the rings symbolize a great deal to me as I think of my sister Emily, my sister Julia, and myself.  Each of us is so different, each of us is so much the same.  I also love that there are three rings because rings symbolize continuity, wholeness, and eternity.  Although Julia is separated from her body now — as Emily and I will be sooner or later — one day our bodies and souls will be united, perfect, and whole in the new heavens and the new earth.

becca-garber-necklace-julia-2

I don’t wear much jewelry — usually just my wedding rings and a ring that Julia’s friends made with Romans 8:18 inscribed inside it.  Now I have this beautiful necklace too.  Do you wear special jewelry that was given to you by or reminds you of a loved one?

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10 Responses to my new necklace

  1. Anna (Garland) Weaver July 24, 2013 at 3:01 pm #

    Such a beautiful necklace! Thanks for sharing Romans 8:8. Thinking about you! love Anna

  2. Nate Hartman July 24, 2013 at 3:08 pm #

    Thanks, Becca, for sharing this. We were so thankful to see you, Lena, and Gil at the reunion — and thankful for your choice to be there with all of us at that time. Hope you all are doing well!

    • Becca July 25, 2013 at 1:36 pm #

      Thanks for this kind comment, Nate! It was a great blessing to be with you all, especially when I remembered that the family has lost Esther, and so they are very intimately acquainted with loss.

  3. Lauren Jones July 24, 2013 at 4:11 pm #

    What a lovely gift from some very thoughtful sisters-in-law. Thinking of you, Bex. xoxo

  4. Joy @ Caspara July 24, 2013 at 6:01 pm #

    That’s so beautiful!! You have great sisters-in-law.
    I don’t think anyone can expect you to have wise words about grief and death. It’s terrible and heart-breaking. I just want to send you a big hug!

  5. Tiffany July 24, 2013 at 7:46 pm #

    Beautiful! Such a blessing to have that kind of love and support. Praying for you as you continue to grieve.

  6. Sarah Boschung July 25, 2013 at 1:29 am #

    What a beautiful necklace and such a special keepsake! You are blessed with such wonderful family!

  7. Marmee July 25, 2013 at 5:15 am #

    Thank you for this, Becca. The “missing” does not go away, but I think grace and hope grow in and through and out of the missing, making you someone of greater depth and beauty. “Grace brings beauty out of ugly things….” (From ” Grace” by U2). Your necklace can foreshadow that as well as always remind you of the very special bond between three sisters. <3

  8. Autumn July 26, 2013 at 12:36 am #

    such a beautiful necklace

  9. Steph @ meet.make.laugh. July 28, 2013 at 10:24 pm #

    What a beautiful, thoughtful gift. I love it’s simplicity and what it signifies to you.

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