Page 77 - Dash Inspirations by Linda Ellis

Let It Go
(Story)
My husband once learned a difficult lesson the hard way when a cousin coerced him into a shared business partnership. After eventually discovering his various avenues of theft, he spent time behind bars. Though my husband opted not to pursue charges, it created an irreparable estrangement from a one-time close friendship and partnership. Far worse than the money, time and labor he stole from my husband, was the outright betrayal he felt. He was hurt more than financially, he was hurt emotionally, which left a scar that took far longer to heal than any monetary injuries.
Fast forward a few years, and that cousin perished in a freak accident in a swimming pool in Louisiana. My husband mourned his death, regretting the fact that he’d never taken the time to forgive his cousin for his past transgressions before his untimely death.
Fast forward again to a birthday celebration a family member planned in Louisiana. Inviting many of us to a large house he’d rented to celebrate his 50th birthday, there were lavish dinners and many fun activities included in this special celebration. On the third day, we were all invited to a special dinner at one of Louisiana’s top restaurants to sample some magnificent and unique cuisine. We were all very excited, getting dressed and ready to go when my husband approached me to say he wasn’t going because he had an important errand to run, and that he’d meet up with us later.
I learned afterwards this special errand was one he really needed to complete...for his own sake. He had discovered that the cousin was buried somewhere near Slidell, LA in an unmarked grave...no headstone...no symbol to recognize the life of the Viet Nam veteran, whose body lay beneath the soil there. Yes, this man was imperfect, and yes, he’d done some less than honorable deeds, but he deserved forgiveness, and my husband felt an undeniable desire to offer him that. So, he researched and located the obscure dusty, lonely cemetery where his cousin’s most-recent wife had vengefully arranged his final resting place.
My husband met with the curator of the cemetery who helped him locate where his cousin had been laid to rest from the map of plots. Then, he set
Dash Inspirations by Linda Ellis www.LindaEllis.life
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