Page 30 - How We Lead Matters

The Signature

There was a time in my life when I truly did not know how I could carry on.
The sunshine had been abruptly eclipsed by the call telling me our
daughter, Juliet, had been killed in an automobile accident while preparing
to attend her first year of classes at Smith College. Smith was my alma mater,
where I had left my daughter weeks before with all the promise of a young
life ahead of her. And then the call came.
Like most who have lost a loved one unexpectedly, I cycled through
feelings of pain and anger that ultimately led to abject depression. Though I
was surrounded by a loving family trying to help, nothing seemed to reach me.
My faith was sorely tested. How could God let this happen? I finally
rejected God and read every philosopher I could find, trying to understand.
Eventually, with my faith renewed, my husband and I realized that we
could best remember our daughter by making a new commitment to living
our lives to the fullest. Because it may be our last, we must live each day in a
way that we would be proud to “sign our name” to it, just as an artist signs his
or her work with pride of accomplishment.
From that day, we have devoted ourselves to making each day count—
to living the rich, full life that was denied our Juliet.

Marilyn Carlson Nelson 13