Letter to someone special

Dear SIL:

I miss you. I never thought I'd say that as we saw each other most days - not out of friendship mind you, convenience as our children attended school together.

I was never more than a meddling family member who proved useful for school holidays and random babysitting, but I loved every minute of it. I am so glad that you asked me as your children are bright shining lights..
Though I don't know all of them now, I can confidently say that they all are.
I am sorry we were not close. I had at one point wished for a sister, but you have a big enough family and are so private.
Despite this the times that we shared as family are permanent and I am grateful for each of them.
You are always and forever the aunty of my children and they refuse to see you as anything else. You will always be my sister, both in God and in family.
I do not know the depth of pain you are enduring. It was such a shock when everything came in the door that day. Though we have traveled down the road some, it hurts and shocks us still.
I do not claim to understand you, or your journey but I do care for you. I do wish I could be around to help you and support you and show you that neither myself or anyone else has taken sides.
I am learning that love doesn't depend on circumstance, it depends on your heart. How you choose to think and how you choose to allow your heart to feel. Love doesn't change in circumstance or distance, it changes by choice and it changes in pain. It's hard use your heart to love when it hurts so badly, but its possible.
We missed you at Christmas, we missed you for all the birthdays, we cried and pulled out pictures and laughed.
We prayed.
We prayed for healing and asked for hope. Mostly we prayed for you and the children. Yours and mine. We prayed for good memories to surface and for hope for tomorrow.
I cannot express my pain at what feels like losing you all, neither can I stand in your shoes, but I can say, at the end I care for you, I care for your family. My family and I will always be here, ready when you are.
In the mean time we will pray as we walk our separate paths and hope for a gentle Convergence somewhere down the roAd.
I love you all,
Your SIL.