So to distill my life into a six word memoir is harder than
I thought it would be. There are so many
different directions it could go. And
the thought of casting my six-word memoir out into cyberspace—where words never
disappear—became more and more daunting the longer I thought about it. Yes,
that is the “over thinking” thing popping up again.
I tried to come up with a memoir that was lighthearted and
meaningful that I could connect to something in my life. Hmmmm . . . what could it be? But memories are an unruly thing. Lighthearted is not where my memory train
stopped. Instead my mind turned to another moment in my
life when I had to decide on just a few words to describe the
indescribable.
 |
Corey Andrew McClafferty
9-16-87 — 11-24-88
|
Corey, my fourteen-month-old son, had just died from a head injury after falling off the swing in the back yard. I picked out a tombstone. I didn’t want a tombstone, and I sure didn’t want one with my son’s name on it. They asked if we wanted to add anything besides his name, birth and death dates. How could a few words possibly capture what my son meant to me? Finally I mumbled “Our beloved son.” Three words that can never scratch the surface of the love I still have for my son, and the devastation of his loss.
How does this melancholy memory connect to writing this blog? I began writing only after Corey died. If he
had not died, I would never have written a single word. After his death I knew I was supposed to
write a book about my experience. My first
book titled Forgiving God is a Christian inspirational book about the Spiritual
battle I faced after Corey’s death and how God brought me through it and back to Him. After that, I began writing nonfiction books
for young readers.
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| Cover for my first book, Forgiving God |
Corey’s death has taught me many things about my God, my
work, and my life. One of those things
has been that life is short, sometimes very short. Every day costs me one day of my life and I
don’t know how many days there will be. So
I have a very simple six-word memoir:
Life’s a gift, treasure each day.
Carla Killough McClafferty
Oh, Carla, I am so sorry for your loss.! I am thankful that it has propelled you to write and to help and inspire others.
ReplyDeleteWhat a powerful read. Thank you so much for sharing this wisdom. I love your memoir!
ReplyDeleteCarla, thanks so much for sharing your story, and your wonderful memoir with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, Carla. My son Ben died after an accident at age 13 months, just a few months before your beautiful boy was born. Reading your post touched me, and I admire your courage to share your experience.
ReplyDeleteWhat a difficult experience to share, and how beautifully you shared this, and your six-word memoir, thank you for all!
ReplyDeleteIt takes a special strength, one from God, to get through such a tragic loss. You teach others through your words. Love your six words. They are just right!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this heartbreaking and life changing loss. I am so moved by your resilience. Your six words are perfect. I am still over-thinking mine.
ReplyDeleteDear Jane, Bobbi, Carmela, Buffy, Michelle, Margaret and Liz. Thank you all for your kind comments. I appreciate them. There are many days, still, that I need to remember my own six-work memoir.
ReplyDeleteCarla
You, Carla, and this post are both gifts.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Love your six words! They are so true.
ReplyDeleteEsther, that is such a sweet thing for you to say. You are one of those people that have inspired me in the business since the day I met you. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIna Raye, thank you for your support and encouragement. I appreciate it.
Carla ~ you have demonstrated, in sharing with such depth, what a powerful tool words can be. Thank you, thank you.
ReplyDeleteApril, thanks for you comment. It is powerful that words can bring both laughter and tears.
ReplyDelete