Today, I got outta Dodge for a while and took myself and nephew out for a haircut. The day started the way most due start for me. I awake and fall back to sleep multiple times during the night for no particular reason. So anyway I was glad to be taking him today because I needed to get up and go 🙂
After our haircut we headed out for a slice of pizza before coming back to my home. Stevie wanted to play with the puppy.
My mind has been pondering for the last week or so how time seems to just disappear so quickly. Minutes, hours, days,weeks, months and years. As a matter of fact last week the lyrics came to mind for an old song. I have been remembering so many people who have passed and I miss them.m
i sat across from my nephew Stevie today and thought God he grew up so quickly. I remembered reading recently some where a little saying that resonated with me. It went something like this….
While your busy living your life, it is passing by you.
Isn’t that true . We are so busy planning, working, raising families, caring for parents that we get so engrossed in the things of this world that when we finally stop to look up so much has passed by.
At some point earlier in my life I was watching my young children growing up so quickly and managed to say to my wife let’s try and savor these moments they were young and we were all under one roof. I am grateful where I am now because of the mistakes that I have made as a dad and family man spending time with my wife and kids was not one of them. Our life situation of my working days while my worked the nights made me accountable and responsible for our 4 children.
God made it so that my wife and I were together in the effort. We had a sitter that came and filled the gaps who again was an incredible influence of love and kindness to my kids.
I returned home and checked my messages and on Facebook there was a picture that my daughter had reposted from her wedding last June. It was beautiful.
I then saw another post from a friend that reminined me of my mom and I thought and said out loud God mom, I miss you. Please help as I push myself through this day. I began to imagine her response to my greeting.
I happen to believe every word spoken or unspoken from our hearts is heard by our loved one who are now with God.
I threw out a search on YouTube with a phrase that was in my head. This is the song that appeared. I had never heard it before but God led me to it.
Becareful with your time it is fleeting, but it need not be lost.
This blog entry is my testimony to Gods glory in our lives. We can acknowledge that we are his benefactors and he is worthy of our praise and thanks.
Isn’t that what it feels like at times in our lives? That statement is true in the fact that we as humans move forward with a dream, a perceived notion as to what we want. I always told my kids that the world is their oyster. To do and become the best of whatever they sought to be. When they showed apprehension my wife and I just supported them and said go for it. My life and yours are no different from our kids. In my eyes this world was my oyster for quite sometime. I had my family, friends all the while I continued growing in faith as I searched for true understanding of lifes purpose. I was part of a family business that was respected for our customers and those of our community. I could never see anything down the road and see anything but, good health and my growing business with its success. I loved people and my clients/ career and bent over backward to grow the business, grow my family and to help my friends . I had planned on that road to continue. Why wouldn’t it?
But, the road turned…
Todays writing is not so much to complain but to demonstrate how what we dream, what we dare to shoot for is not wrong. God has built into each one of us the ability to achieve our goals. As a matter of fact it would be sinful for us not to ettempt these things. Not just because of our selves but because when we attain our goals we then are able share the fruits of our blessings with others who need help and encouragement. Fruit can manifest itself in many ways by giving of time, giving guidance to someone on the road behind you in life and showing them the straight path. It could be financial when you see a need. You will know🙂 God will tell through our prayers and through our hearts.
Life has shown me that we cannot look back. There are no open doors to return through. We need to proceed forward into tomorrow with the same hopes and dreams that we have had but with one large exception. As we grow and learn the hard facts of this life we need to with age temper our expectations. When a change comes upon us it is not a failure.
From my personal perspective I have learned and accepted recently that I probably will never be what I was physically prior to Cancer. I believe that I need to push on and fight to regain what I can and to retain what I have.
My blog entrees have slowed down because I have been in this self actualization place since before Christmas. I cannot waiste my time on writing unless it helps someone else who is living their own difficult life walk. Plus sometimes I find it personally difficult to share my innermost feelings on my journey.
Today was that day. God inspired me to this writing today even the song came to me… A line of the lyrics and when I searched it this is what came out. God through the the Holy Spirit is guiding me and us.
So, do I like the things that life is showing me ? no. Did it kill my Spirit no. I am a little tattered for sure but again I am grateful for all that I have. I praise God for his life giving mercy that he has afforded to me in this moment. I breathe because God has elected me to do so in this moment.
Thats it, listen to the words of this song I sincerely hope that this writing and corresponding song resonates with the reader of this blog. Amen.
God Bless You All,
Danny
please pray for:
Jenn Glio Blastoma
Bryan with Glio Blastoma
Jack with GLio Blastoma
children effected by illness and autism
For us all, our needs whatever they might be.
For our military and the heroes lost.
for this world.
we pray to the Lord.
Lord hear our prayers. Amen.
I believe that music is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
They help us in this life and gives us prespective on a given human emotion.
Today’s post was inspired by a conversation with a friend over the phone in terms of where I am at in my life and where I would like to be.
I hung up the phone and saw a new posting from a friend L that has gone through so much and is coming out the other side of this life situation. I looked at her picture and thought that is the look of confidence where victory through God has been achieved.
I immediately thought of one of my favorite songs. I used it a lot while undergoing chemo, radiation the whole ball of wax. I would play it over and over until I owned it. It was my defiant slap in the face to Cancer and death.
Turn it up!! and slap whatever thing that is trying to destroy your life in the face. Declare victory and let joy pervade you life and your soul. Amen.
God Bless You,
Danny
its all about attitude, perspective faith and hope.😀🙏
This writing that I begin tonight is a topic very near and dear to my heart. Why tonight ? Well, I just read an article that a friend had on Facebook. The article was about an actor of the theatre who had a special needs child at the afternoon matinee who became difficult with his parent and was yelling during the show.
The actor wrote a beautiful editorial after the fact not complaining about the fact that this women brought her child to the show rather he took the audience to task over their rude actions and yelling at that mother. Many in the audience did not give one thought to what that mom was going through.
I thought it was beautiful for him to try and give a perspective of charity and concern for someone else’s plight. I commend him for his good effort in educating once again. It is not all about each one of us always. We are a connected society with a diverse populations living their own daily victories and struggles.
This subject is near and dear to me because I have a special Nephew who is one of my favorite people on this planet. I have witnessed the crass treatment that my brother, his wife and family have endored because Stevie is special.
Through hours of praying over this situation I told my entire family years ago that these special children/ people are gifts from God. Since I was a young child I have always felt a deep level of compassion for these special individuals.
We as a society have to stop looking at Special needs children as a nuisance, an obstruction to our lives and see the beauty , kindness that they bring us.The undeniable fact is that they are some of our best teachers.
These beautiful children / people challenge us in so many ways. Not because they are terrible but because they do not connect with their emotions in a conventional way and because of that fact they can get fearful.
I believe that God uses these special people to teach us patience, love, charity, and they force us to be bigger and better versions or ourselves.
I have watched my brother, his wife, children, and all family members pull together around my incredibly beautiful , non judgemental nephew.
He has a life of suffering with his ailments and is as my mom used to say “is our love”. Guess what? He is, Stevie also makes us laugh because he is very funny. He is very smart but processes information differently.
I could tell stories of horrible discrimination against him and his family and I was witness to one terrible encounter on a plane trip we took on vacation a few years back.
I will see if I can attach the article that I read this evening on to this blog post. It was written that well.
My mother always said …… I have 13 grandchildren and I know for sure that Stevie is truly going to heaven.
There have been many shared and private tears shed by all because of Stevie’s difficulties. Stevie never complains he will smile and hug us no matter what. If we look sad he will come and stand with you, quietly looking at you So compassionately,so lovingly.
When I was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer he wanted to take care of me. He made his mom take him out to buy me anything and everything. He did not run from the fire he ran into it and wanted to help uncle Danny. He was in and out ,up and down getting me water snacks just sitting and watching me. I was forced to rise from self pity to be what he needed and deserved and I love him so much for being my buddy.
He has little quirky things he does at times and sometimes does not want to cooperate with the plans that we have for him .
One time one of my brothers friends said it too bad you have been burdened by having your son with his difficulties.
My brothers response was typical for my big brother he said,
Really? I don’t look at Stevie that way. I think he is the biggest gift that God gave my entire family. Stevie is love.
Another thing that Stevie brought to our entire family while teaching us the importance of the simpler things in life is that we needed to firm our foundation of faith up. We have all done that up over the years. Thank you Stevie, thank you God!
One thing, I will tell you is this. There are no and will not be any Riley victims. We will not be victimized by special needs, cancer or any other thing that befalls us.
We are in the battle but Jesus already won the war.
For my brother Steve and is beautiful wife Nancy. Two better parents you cannot find. xo. You inspire us all. 🙂
God Bless You,
Danny
The article mentioned in this blog is below..
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Broadway actor Kelvin Moon Loh came to the defense of a mother and her young son sitting in the audience of “The King and I” after the child disrupted a matinee performance in September 2015. The woman’s son began crying and screaming during a particularly emotional scene. The mom tried to calm her son, but soon the audience grew angry and heckled her, some called for her and the boy to be removed from the theater and others were heard asking “why would you bring a child like that to the theater?”. Embarrassed, the mom and boy left the theater after a few minutes.
It turns out, the boy happens to have autism. The crowd’s reaction did not sit well with the musical’s lead, and Loh took to Facebook to express his feelings about the incident and to champion the rights of autistic children and parents of children with autism to be allowed to visit to the theater like anyone else. His passionate post has no doubt won him new fans.
“Just got off stage from today’s matinee and yes, something happened. Someone brought their autistic child to the theater.
“That being said – this post won’t go the way you think it will.
“You think I will admonish that mother for bringing a child who yelped during a quiet moment in the show. You think I will herald an audience that yelled at this mother for bringing their child to the theater. You think that I will have sympathy for my own company whose performances were disturbed from a foreign sound coming from in front of them.
“No.
“Instead, I ask you- when did we as theater people, performers and audience members become so concerned with our own experience that we lose compassion for others?
“The theater to me has always been a way to examine/dissect the human experience and present it back to ourselves. Today, something very real was happening in the seats and, yes, it interrupted the fantasy that was supposed to be this matinee but ultimately theater is created to bring people together, not just for entertainment, but to enhance our lives when we walk out the door again.
“It so happened that during “the whipping scene”, a rather intense moment in the second act, a child was heard yelping in the audience. It sounded like terror. Not more than one week earlier, during the same scene, a young girl in the front row- seemingly not autistic screamed and cried loudly and no one said anything then. How is this any different?
“His voice pierced the theater. The audience started to rally against the mother and her child to be removed. I heard murmurs of “why would you bring a child like that to the theater?”. This is wrong. Plainly wrong.
“Because what you didn’t see was a mother desperately trying to do just that. But her son was not compliant. What they didn’t see was a mother desperately pleading with her child as he gripped the railing refusing- yelping more out of defiance. I could not look away. I wanted to scream and stop the show and say- “EVERYONE RELAX. SHE IS TRYING. CAN YOU NOT SEE THAT SHE IS TRYING???!!!!” I will gladly do the entire performance over again. Refund any ticket because-
“For her to bring her child to the theater is brave. You don’t know what her life is like. Perhaps, they have great days where he can sit still and not make much noise because this is a rare occurrence. Perhaps she chooses to no longer live in fear, and refuses to compromise the experience of her child. Maybe she scouted the aisle seat for a very popular show in case such an episode would occur. She paid the same price to see the show as you did for her family. Her plan, as was yours, was to have an enjoyable afternoon at the theater and slowly her worst fears came true.
“I leave you with this- Shows that have special performances for autistic audiences should be commended for their efforts to make theater inclusive for all audiences. I believe like Joseph Papp that theater is created for all people. I stand by that and also for once, I am in a show that is completely FAMILY FRIENDLY. The King and I on Broadway is just that- FAMILY FRIENDLY- and that means entire families- with disabilities or not. Not only for special performances but for all performances. A night at the theater is special on any night you get to go.
“And no, I don’t care how much you spent on the tickets.”
Since the initial post, Loh’s message has received 31,000 shares. Hopefully Loh’s message will resonate with people and make people think twice about judging others at public events and to maybe think about responding with compassion rather than anger.
In life their are songs that you remember that were meaningful to others in this case my mom. As a kid she would say to us I love this song and then would tell me why it meant so much to her.
At around 2:30 this morning I was in bed with my kindle on and it was playing random songs. This song came on and I thought of my mom. I never payed attention to the words as a kid. My mother and father were very much in love and shared over 60 years together 57 of which they were married and had their 5 children. They had all of the stress issues of a family and my dad almost passed when he was in his 40’s
My mom passed away almost 2 .5 years ago and my dad is still coping with the loss.
This morning at 2:30 I became aware of the words and understood why my mom loved this so much. I laid in bed looking at my wife and thought of all she has been through with my dire cancer diagnosis, having to figure out the house hold finances, support our 4 children emotionally and work full time to handle the bills and obligations.
I believe that song was meant for that quiet moment to remind me of my mom and dad and the common treads shared by my life walk and theirs.
I am sure for many of you as well.
Our significant others are our treasures, gifts from God and should be valued and recognized as such.
For my parents, my bride smile emoticon and all of yours smile emoticon
YouAre Music – http://youare.com Music with “you are” in the title or lyrics. Gladys Knight & The Pips (1974) “You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me…
The following is a Re blog of my blog post dated 8-13-2014
I chose this blog to be republished today because of my recent loss of my friend Paul and because of a show that I saw on Chronicle tonight talking about near death/ afterdeath experiences. I went to search out the first vision writing because these things do happen. They are incredible and never fade.
I was able to share my experiences with Paul and many other people who were preparing to meet God. Its been nearly 4 years since diagnosis and i was then told that i had only months to live. I was truly dieing. I was on the very edge of life and was unafraid. at total peace. There is no fear necessary, beauty lies beyond this life and beyond our comprehension.
Jesus does not lie. He went before us to make straight the path for those who love him and follow his ways.
The doctors are miffed as to why I have done so well with a terminal braincancer diagnosis. I feel that God has me here now as a witness to help others who need hope and help them see their God there waiting to receive them.
I am a regular guy with a Miraculous story. Not because of me but because God wants me to help others. My job is not done yet. Furthermore, I am a miracle currently, but life is far from easy on me daily. Any suffering I have is offered up for God to use for others. Perhaps this is my pennance , God knows.
Again this writing is from 8-13-2014
In The Beginning of true Spiritual awakening of all of us is a long time in the making. We experience different levels of awareness in God, his existence and supreme gift to us all and I m not talking about life 🙂 That is a Miracle in itself. I am referring to the gift of The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit as far as I am concerned is our bridge to the Almighty, he facilitates all that is good, he inspires us, he warns us,he allows God to fill us with joy and allows our conscience to feel guilt for a wrong doing.The Holy Spirit will help to bring us to our knees for repentence before our Lord. The Holy Spirit that dwells within every one of us is God given and works in concert with our desires, needs and to allow us to fulfill our destiny for God and his people. We need to allow The Holy Spirit to work with us. We need to pray for his assistance in a meaningful way. I mentioned this in one of my recent blog writing that I began praying and commiting myself to God and the holy Spirit with my daily shower and telling all of Heaven that the water was my rededication and reminder of my baptismal water. I say daily to God that I surrender myself to whatever he wants from me and tell the Holy Spirit to please use me to the best of my ability. Lastly, I call on all of Heaven through my prayers for all of the Angels and Saints to please bestow on me any gifts of the Spirit that I may need in the future. Heaven is for real.:) This is a very special time that we are living in, a time like no other. It is a time of Miracles, it is a time of God’s pouring out of The Holy Spirit and Spiritural gifts for eachone of us. We all have our very own special gifts. Some we are born with some we acquire from God in the moment of his choosing. Our gifts can bend and change over a period of time based on what God wants and needs us to accomplish. The one prerequsite that God has for each of us to open our hearts and desire to be an agent of good to be the light to oneanother. It is simple. Through my childhood, adolescence and even into my 30’s I was always searching for my true God and his existence. I could feel him to a certain degree but the picture was still far from focus. During that time for me the 90’s. Life had a lot of moments of hurts from people you know, daily nonsence. Its hard to see God when you are surrounded by others who are not necessarily in Christ or God based. You are wandering around in a crowd of lost sheep many of which have no idea that they are even lost. I am not judging but it is indeed a fact. Well in the latter part of my 30’s I managed to bring my picture into a little more clarity with prayer and the assistance of others through a beautiful retreat know as Cursillo in a retreat house know as St. Basil’s in Methuen, Ma. that was I believe in Oct 1999. My wife went in November of the same year. It was life changing, the focus and picture was now crystal clear! It was an intersection where God made himself and his presence known. It is a Miracle, just as St. Basils is. You should call and look into this retreat house. It will be the best gift that you can give yourself ! So, I came back from that retreat and one of my friends called me the next day and said, hey Dan, I saw you walking on the water of the lake today 🙂 It was so funny,he knew that I was on Fire .lol Each day that we live sets the stage for the next day and action. So all of the many little or big moments of my daily journey that come out onto this blog journal are always building for a bigger God moment. They are all God moments because he is there with us getting us through. All of our Spiritual Gifts are to be shared. It is not about us. This blog tells my journey through God. It his victory over death (my) and yours. God wants my life psalm #139 shared so that all will see him, and draw closer to our Heavenly Father. 4- 5 years ago, I am not sure of the date, I was called out of the blue into some of the most intense Spiritual experiences that I could ever have imagined. I was blown out of the water, I will just refer to them as writing for my church. The details of those writings were not for us , they are for the church. I will say this anyone with a sense of Spiritural awareness just needs to look at the news or turn on the television to see what is going on. The world is out of balance. This process was stretching myself and family to the max. The Holy Spirit is just so awesome. My spiritual adviser said to me , Dan, lets just see where it goes, and we did. I will explain about this experience at a later date. My first vision, vivid dream, about 4-5 years ago during the time I was doing the church writings. I was asleep and had the most vivid dream. God uses our own lifes experiences and will make them part of his message in my case it was based in my lifes work and I have been for over 30 years through the gift of the Holy Spirit an interior Designer. I have done projects that when I had completed them looked at them and said, God, I did that! I did through God and love alone complete my projects .More on that later too!:) So, I was sleeping and my vision which seemed like forever started. I am giving my account to you exactly as It happened and was told to my priest, my adviser and friend long ago… This remember was more that 3 years before my cancer diagnosis. I walked up to the door of this house and rang the bell. I had decorating samples in my hand. A women came to the door and opened it, I just remember how pleasant she was, I could hear children laughing and she said, excuse me for a moment and walked away off to the left in the direction of the children. I did not see them but heard them laughing. So, I stood there and it seemed like a while, I being the type A personality and loving what I did. I said to myself, I will just walk in to the right here and see what she needs. So the interior was very itherial everything was a very soothing white color. It was extremely peaceful. I just kept walking and ahead of me was a hallway with a very bright light people were coming out of the light and passing me again all faces were non descript, everything was very etherial and white. I noticed that there was something on the wall that everyone that came out of the hall seemed to be stopping to look at so, I wandered over to it and looked and was a very pale colored picture I recognized it immediately. It was the shroud of Turin. I have to say this too, I had never given 1 seconds thought to the shroud in my life yet here it was . Well any way I could hear voices from down the end of the long extremely bright hallway and hear a booming voice and laughter it was pure joy. When I got to the entrance I realized, I shouldn’t be here, I had wondered from where I was left to wait. I would never wander around my clients home. So, I returned to where I was waiting by the door. I was getting annoyed and it was like 4 hours. Well, the really pleasant women was back and said she was sorry for the delay and she opened the door to the left of me. The children were quiet now and she guided me into the room. I stood there and there was a very large white table in front of me. As I stood there the women was standing to the left side of the table looking at me and there was another figure to the right side of the table looking at me as well. The women looked at me and, I felt love like I had never felt before. She said again sorry for the wait, I remember having been so angry to had to wait 4 hours for her to return and , I just responded its okay and she said to me you are an angel. Of course, I told Father I am certainly not, I am a sinner like everyone. I remember feeling intense love. I knew that it was my Blessed Mother. She without a word uttered pointed down to the table and moved her hand over the surface as if she wiped the table and the white milky color left and it now had a clear glass. It was a case. I could see all kinds of relics, bottles of oils, and religous statues related to my faith and she spoke these words to me, We want you to have many Spiritual gifts. And that was it. I woke up and is as alive today and vivid as the time that it occured. I have had years to think of why The Blessed Mother would call me an angel, because I am not. So I have a couple of thoughts on that. 1.) She knowing that I was upset with waiting for her which my Blessed Mother would know and yet I told her no problem thought that I was kind? 2.) Everything that I have done in writing including this blog through the Holy Spirit is never about me or any one of us . We are all loved the same. And what mother does not look upon her child at least as an angel in training? 🙂 Thats the best I can do on that thought last but not least the booming laughter and joy was, I know, was Our God! I was given a glimpse of Heaven. I pray everyday to continue to grow for his purpose and into his will completely . Amen.
One one of my favorite pictures off of Facebook in 2015
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This one is that to me completely.
This picture says it all so effortlessly and quietly. The Giant love in all of our lives is God/ Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Trinity.
God is this to me personally so I do not worry about this life. Like this picture his presence in my life and families Gives us peace and joy beyond measure.
Happy and Healthy 2016 may God be the Giant in your life above all other things. amen😀
I sincerely pray that 2016 will become the best year of our lives. I hope that God blesses us but more importantly I pray that we bless others in any way that we can.
The Christmas Season to me is a everyday event. Not the spending part but the giving part.
This world is hurting so badly. We need to carry our light out into this world with love,compassion and joy. We need to be the Miracle to lift one another up. It does not have to be a huge expense of money to achieve this goal.
It takes kindness, and an attitude that I will see the need before me and bring comfort and joy to another.Its being Jesus to one another .
This next video is of an elderly veteran who suffered a heart attack . His dogs were taken into a shelter and his was in the hospital three months in recovery.
By the time he got back to the shelter to get his black and brown labs they had received health related care and there were bills to be paid to get his pets back.
He had been in the store the day earlier and he did not have the money to get them back. They were up for adoption. He returned the next day to that shelter with what he had $40.00 . It was not enough.
The miracle was that a beautiful women overheard the elderly mans plight while she was there.. Here’s the story watch and see what each one of us can do to help one another.
As as you can see that Miracle made his life and outlook on humanity beautiful. He felt worthy of love. He saw God in the situation noticed how he grabbed his face and looked up and said thank you to God.
Finally,
Turn up this song and March out into the night this New Years Eve and keep on going. Light your world. Amen!
Happy New Year and God bless you my friends. Amen.
I have written so much over the past year. My topics are pretty basic although the subject matter that is written is not. As I am writing tonight the Hallmark channel is on and my wife is in and out of the room half watching. The puppy wants to be played with and was just placed back in her crate. So cute, she loves her mother 😀
The kitchen that was immaculate is now not so immaculate. My youngest daughter has her good friends in for a little Yankee swap tonight. They made their recipes and moved on to the living room. Where they are knitting, there is contemporary christian music playing and someone is playing a harmonica .
Life is good. I am personally struggling with a massive energy drain of my body. I know it is not cancers return because I was told that should the brain cancer return that I would lose mobility very quickly. That has not happened. Praise God.
My doctors prescribed a medicine that may jump start the body. I got it and as I began to use it, a sense of unease set in and I prayed on it. I read everything that I could and did not like the possible side effects associated with its use. I stopped using it because God did not give me peace about using it rather I got peace in not using it.
We need to do our due diligence in any big decision that we need to make in our lives.
I think that my exhaustion is due to fact that I have stepped up my daily activity. I have been very aggressive (for me).The activity combined with the Christmas Season and all of the fun things that it involves with it has left my body with the need to catch up.
The other thing that is definitely an energy drain is that a very dear friend passed away last week and was buried this week. I had been back and forth to see him at the hospice center.
Paul was a treasure. He had so much faith and showed us all the way of the cross and left this world peacefully and joking with everyone. He is now free from the bondage of the life and is healed.
His family is wonderful and they too are strong in their faith.
The big but is this…
His family is missing him so much. He was so young. We as friends even with our faith are grieving his loss so I think that this loss is effecting my energy whereas I have been emotional over his loss and want to be there for his family.
2015 for me personally has been a good year whereas I have thus far outrun my terminal brain cancer diagnosis. But, in other ways it has been a very human year of worries ranging from the everday stuff to friends that were lost to their illnesses and friends that I continue to support in their battles.
So, like you all, life is a little bitter sweet. The bottom line is this. I know the only reason why I am where I am, alive in this moment is because of God and my faith that he has us all no matter what.
My friend Paul was such a wonderful witness to everyone and that’s the model that I want to show this world as well. Victory over this life, Victory through God.
We need to remember these truths , we are all connected. We are all from one creator. We all will live and we all will love. Life is not easy but live is always beautiful from our first breath to our last. Finally, we know that someday God will call us back to himself.
We are born out of love, given love by our God. That life love is to be shared and lavished on everyone regardless of how they treat us. When love hurts us then we need to give that to God and he will restore us. When we are weakened in our bodies or our psychological health suffers we need to continue to love eachother and give the suffering that we are experiencing back to God and he will send us love back through others and by his healing grace.
Trust in him who gave us life and thank him everyday for his goodness to us all.Amen.
Today was every bit if not more of what I had inticipated for Pauls celebration of life funeral mass at my our home parish this morning. This mass had all of the traditions of a firemans send off including the last call bells that means that his shift here was done.
There were 4 vested priests on the alter and the mass was absolutely beautiful from the music, the eulogy , the readings right on through.
The family shared very special memories of Pauls family life. It was an honor being in the moment with them.
Paul was the Miracle to many because he witnessed in the simplest ways while living, working and during recreation that there is something bigger than self and there is an everlasting component to living a great life.
This mass covered every aspects of the our lives journeys, the pain of separation that we who are left behind feel and the joy that Paul is now experiencing being with all who have gone before him including his infant son Steven.
The mass ran over 2 hours and included the distribution of the Holy Eucharist.
The prosession from the church was huge and they were then inviting everyone back to an establishment for lunch . There were arleast 900 people at the funeral. At the end of mass and Pauls departure from the church I looked at my wife and said honey, I don’t have the energy to go to the cemetery or the luncheon. So, we watched the procession leave and we came home.
Like I told my children who were with us, We were there for Paul, Linda and family always, praying with them and their family. If God wanted me there after the mass was done he would have given me the ability to do so. I had already been fed anyway. The mass and Holy Eucharist is what I truly needed today so I am all set 🙂
one of the songs they played outside the church was called Going home a song that I particularly love.
The final song sung inside the church was he Irish Blessing. It was a beautiful and a fitting song for Paul.
I will miss him most sincerely during my days, I was so honored to be by his side when he most needed me to hold his hand and pray and give him the Holy Eucharist. God gave me that honor and privilege. As, I sat with Paul I quietly thought to myself that if my time were here I wish that he would be with me too. Then I realized that he would be in a different way. Yet another friend there to greet me.
Rest in peace my friend/ brother Paul worry not, a lot of people including my family are watching over Linda and your children always…
Just Danny Speaks 