Word of the Month- Remember

In this episode, we explore why remembering hurts and why it also heals.

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Transcript

Welcome To CC Airwaves

0:33

Hello everyone. Welcome back to CC Airwaves. My name is Paige Matillo, and today we're continuing our Word of the Month series, a time where we pause, reflect, and focus on a word that can guide us through the season we're in.

Paige Reintroduces Herself

0:46

Before we begin, I wanted to take a moment to reintroduce myself since we've had so many new listeners joining. As I already mentioned, my name's Paige, and I am the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Catholic Cemeteries Association. We're part of the Diocese of Cleveland, but if you are listening from outside the Cleveland area or even Ohio, you are absolutely welcome here too. I am just so happy to have you joining us. Now back to me. I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and have been with the CCA for four years. On a more personal note, I recently got engaged in January, which has been very exciting. And outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my cats, dog, friends, and family. I love going on walks, reading, crocheting, and trying new hobbies. That's it about me. And I just wanted to take a moment again to thank our new listeners for joining us, and I hope that you continue to support the podcast. Now, on to this month's reflection.

Losing Sean Changes The Word

1:49

Honestly, this month's word was really hard for me to pick. I mean, there are so many options out there, but nothing really felt right. And it only became clear to me what the word should be after I lost someone very special to me. His name was Sean, and I had known him since the day that he was born. He lived with ataxia telingia actasia, and he was only 15 years old when he passed away. Now, Sean, Sean was just truly, truly wonderful. I mean, he had the biggest, brightest smile on anyone I had ever met. And he, when he would enter a room, I mean, he would, I mean, he would just light up any room he walked into. And he just had this very positive attitude. I mean, no matter the circumstances, no matter the cer situation, he just always had a positive outlook. And I mean, he he was just so faithful. He had so much hope and so much faith. And it was honestly inspiring. I mean, I have never met someone so connected to the faith. And getting to know him was just such a privilege. And I'm very grateful for every moment that we had together over the years. And after I lost him, I sat down and I really considered what this month's word should be. And only one word kept coming to mind.

Why Remembering Hurts And Heals

3:29

And so for June, our word is remember. Right after a loss, memories can feel unbearable. Even the moments that once brought joy can suddenly become reminders of what is missing. And I I truly understand why so many people instinctively try to bury those memories somewhere deep because they're hoping to avoid the pain. And honestly, that has usually been my first instinct too. Because after someone dies, it can feel impossible to focus on the happy moments when all you can think about is the fact that they're gone. And after Sean passed away, honestly, it was really hard to think about those moments that we had together. I mean, I didn't even want to look through my photo album because it was just so painful to look back and see those times. But as I was sitting there and as I was reflecting, I realized that I would rather remember than forget. And when I went to that album and I looked through those photos and I watched the videos, I mean it hurt and I cried, but it felt so good to remember all of those things, to remember all those special moments and memories. And just I held them so close to my heart now. I mean, I would rather remember the laughter and the singing in the car and the afternoons at the pool, all of the good moments we shared because those memories are proof that someone mattered and that they were here and that they were loved so deeply. And grief hurts, it does. And sometimes it hurts so deeply that you almost wonder if it would have been easier to have never known that person at all. But then you remember the love, the laughter, the memories, and you realize that the only reason that you're feeling that pain is because you love them. Because that relationship mattered and because they matter to you. And I think one of the hardest parts of looking back at those memories and remembering is that you realize there won't be any new ones. There won't be any new conversations or no new photos, no inside jokes. And those make the old memories become sacred. But maybe that is part of love too. Maybe grief teaches us that ordinary moments were never ordinary at all. I mean, you look back and you think about maybe a walk you took with your loved one, and all of a sudden that becomes a really extraordinary moment that seemed so simple at the time, but now means everything to you. The people we love shape us. They leave fingerprints on our lives and the stories we tell, the music we listen to, the traditions we continue, and the way we move through the world. And even after they're gone, those pieces of them remain with us. We just have to keep them in our hearts and remember them.

Faithful Ways To Keep Love Alive

6:42

And our faith calls us to remember too, to remember the love, the sacrifice, the hope, and to remember that death is not the end of the story. And as I remember, Sean, I try to look beyond the sadness of losing him because a person's life should not be defined by the way it ended. But by the love they gave, the joy they brought others, and the lives they touched while they were here.

Reflection Prompt And Closing Blessing

7:07

With all that being said, this month I invite you to reflect who do you remember today? What memories still make you smile, and what stories deserve to keep being told. Maybe this month looks like pulling out an old photo album, calling someone you love, or sharing stories around the dinner table, or maybe just simply allowing yourself the space to remember without pushing the feelings away. Because remembering is not just about looking backward, it's about love continuing forward. Thank you so much for joining me for this month's reflection. We'll see you next time on CC Airwaves with a new word and a new way to grow. God bless you.