Farewell and New Beginning: What My Father Left Behind
After Sue lost her father, she finds unexpected comfort in her son: the resemblance to her father brings memories to life and shows how strong the connection between generations is. A touching insight into her grief and the path to a new sense of closeness.
By Sue Giers
A few days ago, while going through my father's photo boxes, I noticed the incredible resemblance between him and my son. That actually touched me very comfortingly. This resemblance is not just a simple feature; it shows me that my father lives on in us. It is a tangible sign that his traits, his nature, and also a piece of his soul are carried on to the next generation. It's a strange feeling when you look at old photos and the memories come alive again. There are all the moments captured: the joyful days, the special holidays, and also the everyday scenes that often seem so insignificant but in hindsight are so valuable.
When I now watch my child take on my father’s laughter and gestures, it becomes easier for me to accept the grief. It’s as if my father lives on through my son – and that gives me a good feeling. I have found that grief often weighs heavily on us, but these small experiences help make it more bearable. The connection between generations, which is visible not only in memories but also in appearance and behavior, makes the idea of what was lost more tangible. It doesn’t make the absence any less painful, but it gives me comfort to know that his values and his love continue in the next generation. In such moments, I realize that memories, although they can sometimes seem abstract, remain alive in our daily lives. My father may no longer be here, but in my son and my daughters, I see a part of him living on – and that is a great comfort in grief.
My son resembles his grandfather a lot, which is a great comfort in times of grief.
It's strange when a loved one leaves – life just keeps turning while we are stuck in our thoughts. The death of my father means not only losing him but also a piece of home that for me is connected to Wolfsburg. It feels like saying goodbye to a part of my roots, and that leaves me thoughtful. I have often thought about how it would have been if my father had opened up more from his rough shell. Sometimes I wished he had shown his feelings more often, especially now that I see how many great friends he had.
It touches me when I hear what they say about him. One of his friends said, "Your father always told the truth, and you either dealt with it or you didn't." That sums it up. My father was straightforward, sometimes quite harsh in his opinion, but he was also incredibly loyal. It was never about big words for him, but about what he did. He may not have talked much, but his actions spoke for themselves. It's comforting to know that his friends valued him so much. This honesty and loyalty are something I will never forget and that help me cope with my grief. It is a farewell to my father, but also a reminder of the things he taught me. I want to try to pass that on – in my own life