Comments on: This Wild and Blessed Life

By: Gena

Gena — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 19:43:02 +0000

You know, I’ve seen the movie but never read the book, and this lovely reflection is making me think I should pick it up sometime soon 🙂

By: Maria Theresa Maggi

Maria Theresa Maggi — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 17:56:43 +0000

Thank you, Gena, for your careful deep reading of this post and the beautiful encouragement you offer about love and blessing in the face of tragedy or of that which we cannot change or fix. I’m reminded as I write this of words in A River Runs Through It where the father of the son who dies, who is a pastor, asks this question about how we can help and admits that the ways to help those we love the most often elude us. That book and then movie was such a pivotal work of art for me in dealing with the beauty of a life as long as it lasted, even if it could not be saved in the end, and helped me grapple with a similar loss of my own young cousin to gambling debts and alchoholism. It feels like a profound blessing that your words about my words reminded me of that so much earlier in my life. Once again, thank you. xoxo

By: Gena

Gena — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 12:25:35 +0000

I’ve now been able to read this post three or maybe four times, and I’m glad for that, Maria: it has allowed me to take in more information about Jessica and to develop a keener sense of her spirit, which you capture so well in the anecdotes that you share.

No, I don’t think any of us can be superhuman, as you say, and there’s often no right thing to say when another person encounters despair. I tend to think that the best we can do is to love each other, whether we’re near or far or speaking regularly or not, and it sounds as though you were, and are, doing that for your friend. It was the most you could do, and it is a lot. This loving tribute and your blessing to Jessica here, your wish for her peacefulness, is a lot, too, and I feel certain that it has already found its way to her.

XOXO

By: Maria Theresa Maggi

Maria Theresa Maggi — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 17:51:46 +0000

Thanks so much for this kind comment Deborah! It IS very comforting. xo

By: Maria Theresa Maggi

Maria Theresa Maggi — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 17:47:46 +0000

Thank you so much, Colleen. This is so profoundly true for me, and so beautifully said. I do hope Jessica’s memory will be a blessing for everyone who reads this post. Much love to you for saying it this way, and for just being you!

By: Deborah Harris

Deborah Harris — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 02:29:08 +0000

I’m glad to have known Jessica too, albeit ‘only’ through your words…
I was touched my her wisdom: “It isn’t in our hands to be superhuman like that”
I find solace in that and hope it continues to guide you also, dear Maria xo

By: Colleen

Colleen — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 18:26:55 +0000

Thank you for this. It helps so much with loss, grief and moving forward in all our imperfection. It is incredibly hard to assimilate and work through our mistakes. So hard, that most of the time most of us block those things off until they become a deep, unconscious shame that ironically causes us to behave worse instead of better. She helped you negotiate that and you helped us. Those of the Jewish faith will often say “May her memory be a blessing” as comfort in loss. Her memory IS a blessing to you and, through your writing, us. Thank you and please extend my gratitude to her when next you touch the essence of your memory of her.

By: Maria Theresa Maggi

Maria Theresa Maggi — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 17:44:10 +0000

Thank you so much, Veronica–I really appreciate it. xoxo

By: Veronica

Veronica — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 18:10:53 +0000

This is such a lovely and sweet dedication to a life lost too soon. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. xo

By: Maria Theresa Maggi

Maria Theresa Maggi — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 17:49:14 +0000

Thank you for this beautiful comment, Jen, which brought tears to my eyes. I so appreciate knowing you’re out there reading in such an attentive and supportive way. I treasure your kind words. xo