My mom passed away in April 2023. It is so very hard to put into words what her life meant to me. She was my best friend and confidant, always ready to console with compassion and inspire with faith and understanding. She lived her life with tremendous joy, integrity, and conviction. 

A couple of weeks after her passing, I was sitting at my desk on a rainy morning, going through the cards and letters friends had sent to comfort me. I read many, but one eventually became particularly meaningful. It was a card from friends in my branch Church of Christ, Scientist, and it included this quote from the Bible: “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16). When I first read it, I thought it was nice, but in my grief, I felt it didn’t provide the real uplift I was hoping for. 

Later that day, the sun came out, and I went for a much-needed walk. Before I go any further, I should explain how much I like rocks. I have a small collection that I have gathered on different road trips. The significance of the individual rocks speaks to me in a variety of ways, each one claiming a special place in my collection.