For any true Grey's Anatomy fan, the perfect Sunday is chilling in your bed watching re-runs of the best Mer-Der scenes while curled up in your "Mrs. McDreamy" PJs. Well, at least for me these are the best Sundays. So you could say that when Derek Shepherd was killed off the show almost one year ago, I was devastated and wondered if I would ever feel that way about another TV character. This week, Meredith Grey, my next best thing was brutally and horrifically attacked. I couldn't help but wonder where her other half, her forever love, would have been in this moment.
1. Where is Derek Shepherd?
And every single time you remember that Derek Shepherd, the love of her life, is gone and he's never going to be her "knight in shining whatever" again.
2. Christina Yang you are Meredith's person. Where are you?
Meredith desperately needed Christina on Thursday night. She needed the only person who was going to stand beside her forever after Derek was gone. Yet, she has Alex who loves her so much. But even Alex needed Christina tonight. In times of crisis, we all need our person, our safe haven who will tell us that everything will be okay.
3. Alex loves her so much my feelings are exploding. He actually had tears coming out of his eyes.
Okay so Alex Karev cried everyone, like a best friend who was terrified of losing someone so close to him. It was a heartbreaking moment for most of us because Alex Karev was once known as "evil-spawn."
4. This isn't just a profession. It's a family.
This team of doctors is not just a group of colleagues. They are a family. They've survived plane crashes, crazy hospital shooters and the deaths of their family and friends together. They've lost newborn babies, crashed into trucks, fallen off the wagon, and seen their loved ones die in horrifying ways. But through all the hurt and the pain, they've survived. Alex, Webber, Bailey, Edwards, Jo, Callie, Arizona, Amelia, Owen, and Maggie are Meredith's family. They are the ones who hold her hand and help her get back up no matter how hard the blow.'
5. Seeing Alex hold Meredith and let her cry reminded me of very painful old memories of the way Derek used to take care of her.
I couldn't help but let my mind wonder why Derek was no longer there. But sometimes if we're really luck our friends, who were once known as "evil spawn" become our family.
6. How do you keep moving on?
Her kids didn't want to see her in the hospital. Her husband is dead. She's just been horrifically attacked. Yet, Meredith always finds a way out. She always finds the strength to get up every day and live her life to the fullest in spite of all the hardships thrown her way.
7. Penny fought for her.
Penny was in the room, the night McDreamy died. She was afraid of using her voice to speak up for what she thought the doctors were doing wrong. Like most of us who are new at things, she was afraid of challenging her superiors. She was afraid of using her voice. But Thursday night, she spoke up and she fought for Meredith when Meredith couldn't breathe and cut her wires. She found her voice and she spoke up, no matter who got in her way.
8. Forgiveness will set you free. Anger will consume you.
Dr. Webber couldn't have said it better when he told Meredith to forgive Amelia for being the wrong Shepherd. He is the closest thing she has to a father and this moment in the sunshine was a beautiful father-daughter moment between them.
9. Grace is the most important thing.
After her attack, Meredith was still able to hold her head up and forgive the man who attacked her. She realized that she needed to have grace in most situations and know that people aren't always horrible. We all do bad things, but that doesn't make us all horrible people. It makes us human.
10. Forgive Derek for dying too soon.
Meredith needed to forgive the love of her life for dying too soon and she needed to forgive herself for hating him for leaving her. Forgiveness is more about you than it is anyone else. It is the only way to let go and try to find peace within yourself in order to start living again.
11. You have a voice so use it. Speak up. Make yourself heard.
No matter your age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or any other factor, your voice matters. When you find your voice, own it. Have the courage to speak up if someone is wrong. Have the power to fight for yourself and fight for others. You are the only one with the power to use your voice. No one else can use it for you.