Character
is who you are when nobody is looking….
 |
| Virginia "Ginny" Grove, with son, Sean. |
Before the service began, my sister,
showed me a reading she had asked Ginny's son to share. He said he was not
emotionally able to do that. My sister understood—herself unable to hold back
the emotion to read. As the service began, the paper with the treasured prayer was
folded up, and placed back in her purse.
The priest really did know Ginny!
That was such a relief. I loved hearing him read the sacred texts related to
nature. Ginny taught science, but, more than that, as the priest said,
"Ginny taught LIFE."
Ginny was (IMHO) way too young to
die, but I knew she had had a major heart attack many years ago. Following the
heart attack, she experienced severe anxiety and was sometimes afraid to stay
alone at night. I remember leaving our back door unlocked each night, so Ginny could
let herself in at any time if she needed to. Some mornings, she would be curled
up comfortably on the family room sofa when we woke up.
Her coworkers spoke of Ginny's integrity, creativity, and passion for inspiring students. Many giggles were sprinkle throughout the room when her leaf collection requirement was mentioned! Wonderful
words of praise were shared, including a note from a former student, unable to
attend. It is very different to teach a class than to inspire a life. Ginny inspired. She was one of our daughter's teachers in middle school,
and Ginny was the flow into my life of several dear friends (best called soul
mates).
One teacher who spoke—another passionate cat
lover—had been mentored by Ginny. It almost took my breath away when she closed her sharing with the poem my
sister had brought hoping it would be read! It was perfect that it was shared by another teacher, one blessed to be nurtured by Ginny. Authorship is not
conclusive, but it is often
referred to as Native American. It may have come from such an oral
tradition, but was likely written by Mary Elizabeth Frye. Regardless of
the source, it is a source of comfort for Ginny's friends and family,
and a beautiful tribute to Ginny.
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
In 2001, I had the privilege of
officiating at Ginny's wedding. Ginny made bouquets of feathers—Turkey, Bluejay,
Crow, and she chose to say her vows on the Pier, where the Saint Joseph river was flowing freely into the waters of Lake Michigan.
Ginny chose this Sioux Prayer:
O our
Father, the Sky, hear us,
And make us strong.
O our
Mother the Earth, hear us,
And
give us support.
O
Spirit of the East,
Send us your Wisdom.
O
Spirit of the South,
May we tread your path of life.
O
Spirit of the West,
May we always be ready for the long
journey.
O
Spirit of the North,
Purify
us with your cleansing winds.
Ginny's son has created a
scholarship in her name. What a thoughtful action. Recipients will be from the three schools Ginny
blessed during her career as an educator. Ginny's body has been donated to the
science she loved.
Ginny has made the long journey, but
Ginny's legacy lives on. Aho.
