One Year

It's been one year.

It's been countless tears.

It's been hundreds of dark days,
even when the sun was shining.

It's been dozens of hurtful emails.

It's been a handful of painful phone calls.

It's been weeks of wondering if I can keep the commands.

It's been dreaded mornings and desperate nights.

It's been so much sadness at rumors, mocking and poor character.

It's been continual shock at the sustained slander.

It's been difficult to watch others suffer from similar attacks.

It's been hope dashed, again and again.

It's been so much disappointment; in those I love and those who hate me.

But...

It has also been one year of growth.

It has been lots of tissues handed by loving friends.

It has been months of working through the grieving process.

It's been hours and hours of writing.

It's been hugs and shared smiles through tears.

It's been hundreds of hours of phone conversations.

It's been sweet, shared worship and prayer.

It's been accepting the truth...the startling truth.

It's been hope restored.

It's been apologies, meetings and listening.

It's been a year of walking oh-so-close with my G-d.

It's been hour upon hour, day upon day and month upon month of dedicated and determined prayer for all those I love desperately.

It's been new memories, new friendships and new ways to serve.

It's been smiles, photographs and road trips.

Through it all, it's been a year of extremes; love and hate, joy and sadness, pain and laughter.
Somehow, it all just seems like yesterday.  But really it has been a year.

I'm glad the first year is over.
A year of festivals.
A year of birthdays.
A year of Shabbats.
A year where the connection has not broken, even through it all.

It has been one hell of a year.