Son in-law, Tim and daughter Pam chauffeured and escorted the old folks through three Metro-East cemeteries yesterday as the four of us plus grandchildren, Caleb and Erica paid respects to 18-family members and one special neighborhood boy.
The natural events of life when one reaches their seventh decade is visiting more and more love ones in eternal resting places. This bi-annual honoring junket has always been somewhat of a 'bitter-sweet' exercise, however I must say it's becoming a bit more bitter.
A few months ago, I attended that 60th High School Class Reunion only to discover several dear classmates have passed. Now, yesterday's trip reminds me that the sand is dropping faster and faster through the hourglass.
Okay, that all said...here's the celebratory news, which causes me to shout aloud...'Praise God!'
Praise God for a lifetime of incredible and undeserving blessings. I was born to loving parents and a nurturing extended family all of whom believed and spoke of the loving and saving grace of Jesus Christ. They showed the way to faith and salvation. I lived my adolescent and teen years in perhaps two of this nation's greatest decades, the 1940's and 1950's. I was introduced to sports and honed enough skills to gain immeasurable positive traits and garner a college education. I was blessed with enough talents to serve my family and others at a career that I never looked upon as a 'job.' I was fortunate to meet the girl I would marry when she was but thirteen and I was fourteen...wow! What a history! Three adult children who married people who could actually love me and then allow me the chance to show love to 15- grandkids and two great-grandkids.
I had no say in my appointed time of entry into this world and I have no say in the journey's end...but oh my, how much more can one man expect? And that's the reason I always stop to whisper a prayer at that 15-year neighborhood boy's grave site. I suppose he's the reason it's always been easy to donate to St. Jude.
Yesterday, I paused at each of those eighteen eternal resting places and embraced a reflective flashback moment in time; a shared laugh, event or story. My message to my living love ones? The day you pause to pay respects to this man...look at one another and agree, Here in this place lies one of the most blessed and fortunate people to ever walk this earth.
(Touch)Amazing
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