What does that mean exactly? Growing up Luthern, in a small Pennsylvania town, there weren’t many Catholics. In fact, I don’t recall knowing what a Catholic was until college.
Well, life comes full circle and here I am, a devoted Catholic for over a decade. There are something like 15,000 members of our Holy Family congregation. All walks of like.
One of them, I see occasionally at Gold’s Gym. We recently had a nice conversation with these highlights:
Draw nearer to God and God will draw nearer to you. James 4:8.
True love doesnt force anything.
Greed, sloth, doubt, hypocracy – the four points in the circle surrounding the four squares.
Pay, pray and obey Catholic. This is how my friend (60-something) described himself.
God does not want good men in heaven, he wants Saints.
Gotta go. Time to work on praying, obeying, paying and demonstrating.
We don’t think about death often enough. Why? No idea. Fear, maybe. Not socially acceptable, maybe. I’m not really sure.
But I do know that no one I know thinks death should be dinner table talk.
At the end of the day though, people will talk at the dinner table about us after we’re gone. Some for a few seconds, some for a few days, others may never. And some may never stop.
Here’s a fresh perspective…on “legacy”…
Bob Stewart shares an insightful look at life, our Faith, and our responsibility to both. Take it away Bob….
“Mom called me the other day from Tennessee, where I was raised, to read to me a couple of obituaries. I know – that sounds so exciting, doesn’t it? But that’s what my mom does. She does it to let me know who I should know who either died or is related to someone who died.
But on this last call, she read to me about Albert Hamby, who died at the age of 87. Why should that stand out at all to me? I didn’t let this obituary go without a reverent moment of reflection. Albert was my pastor when I was little – when I made Jesus my Savior. That was and is a spiritual “marker” in my life, and an important person in showing me the way was Albert Hamby.
Are you living a legacy, as Dr. Johnny Hunt said in his book Building Your Leadership Résumé, which is going to outlast you? Are you building “markers” in other people’s lives that, after you are gone, are still there to help others along the way? It could be multitudes or your own family, and it is a question I am asking myself as well.
I am reminded of a song from Steve Green back in the 1980s, called “Find Us Faithful.” In the chorus, he stated, “Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful. May the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe, and the lives we live inspire them to obey. Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.”
Happy Birthday Margaret. My Mother-In-Law turns 87 today.
“Mom” is still living in the house she was born in. Same house her entire life. Never moved out. Never moved away.
She was one of nine children. Her Mother, “Grammy”, open a one-room grocery store (1927) in what is now the living room in their three-story row home in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Grammy raised nine children, ran the store from early morning to late at night for 44 years.
Her Father, who died in his 30’s, was a shoe cobbler in the the back of the house.
“Mom” has aches and pains like most 87 year olds, an answering machine, and even a Trac Phone.
She is a devout Catholic and prays all the time, even when it doesn’t seem so.
She has shown us unconditional love, simplicity, kindness and generosity, loyalty, and love.
Today’s post is dedicated to all the men and women who serve our Country. With a special appreciation to my Father-In-Law who turned 84 yesterday, and to his wife, who turns 87 tomorrow.
Without the two of them, their daughter Cheryl, wouldn’t have been born 52 years ago February 4th. And without Cheryl, who knows where I’d be today.
“Dad” served in Europe during WWII. “Mom” stayed behind and prayed he’d come home alive.
Here’s a beautiful 3-4 minute patriotic video.
Splendid images, decent music, and powerful quotes from some of America’s greatest leaders and Presidents.
Click here only if you have the extra 3-4 minutes. If you pause long enough to view the whole thing, you’ll be very glad you did.
