“’Love isn’t love ‘til you give it away’ were more than just words to Momma,” Leah’s voice trembled slightly as she held up two gold halves of a heart locket. “They were etched on her heart deeper than the locket in my hand. They were her life, and all of us who knew her felt that love radiating into ours.”
She paused, taking a deep breath. The sound of the distant river and a gentle breeze washed over her, offering a moment of solace that gave her the strength to continue. She turned away from those gathered, as her eyes fixed on the long Georgia pine casket that held her mother.
“Momma, it’s days like this I miss you the most. When I was a little girl, I’d tuck my hand into your pocket, hiding behind you. You’d slide your hand over mine, whispering for me to put on my rose-colored glasses and reassuring me that everything would be okay. It still strikes a chord in my spirit remembering the feel of your skin when your hand slid over mine as I helped you wear your half of this locket for the last time. It was my last glimpse of you in this world-and my last act as your daughter. Your final touch would reassure me, even then, that it would be okay. In these moments of uncertainty, I yearn for your presence and that reassurance. When all answers seem lost, I know my thoughts and memories are all I have. I’ve lost my rose-colored glasses, Momma, and now I see the world as it is – so dark and full of shadows.”
“But you’ll never be a shadow in my heart. So, as I stand here today with so many people who loved and were loved by you. I’m not sure what words to say that haven’t already been said by others so much more eloquently. And, as much as anyone here, I remember your dislike for goodbyes. You’d always hold each of us as close as you could within your arms and simply say, ‘Til your love holds me again.’”
Tears welled in Leah’s eyes, their sting a reflection of the deep ache in her soul. “So Momma, today I stand before you, filled with fear, but also with fearless love. I will always love you, until your love holds me again,” she whispered, placing a single white rose on the casket as she stepped away from the front of the casket and turned into the embrace of her father.
Leah lay on her bed, tracing patterns on the ceiling with her eyes. The last of the guests had departed and she heard her father moving around downstairs, the occasional soft clink of dishes as he sorted through the casseroles, cards, and flowers scattered throughout the house...
In the summer of 1992, Leah and Jacob’s lives intersect in a small Wisconsin town, each carrying their own burdens and longing for healing. Leah, reeling from her mother’s recent death and her father’s decision to uproot their lives, arrives seeking a fresh start with extended family. Jacob, home for his yearly family reunion, confronts old tensions and unresolved pain—especially as he faces his strained relationship with his mother and his own identity within his close-knit family. When Leah and Jacob meet, a spark of connection pulls them together, challenging them to open up about their pasts and confront the truths they’ve kept hidden.
Over sunlit lake outings, quiet family dinners, and long conversations, Leah and Jacob find unexpected solace and understanding in each other. Guided by Jacob’s great-aunt Edith, who weaves their family history into life lessons, they are reminded that beauty often emerges from brokenness, like the worn sea glass they find on the shore. As they navigate first love, family legacies, and the courage to pursue their own paths, they discover that sometimes the hardest journeys lead to the most extraordinary beginnings. They say it's a River is a heartwarming tale of love, loss, and finding light after the storm.
