Sunday Homily, September 13, 24th Ordinary Time

Readings:  Isaiah 61, 1-11 (beautiful); Psalm is Luke 1, 46-54 (The Magnificat, beautiful); 1 Thessalonians 5, 16-24; John 1, 6-8, 19-28 .

Isaiah:This is Third Isaiah.  One Isaiah goes to Chap. 39; Two Isaiah, chapters 40-55.  From 40 on we have what is called the Book of Comfort, as I mentioned last week.  Our selection today is all about comfort.  The writer is consoling the Hebrews during the Babylonian captivity, which took place about 580 BCE, in other words about a century after One Isaiah wrote. 

The first marvelous couple of verses are repeated more or less in Isaiah 42, i.e., Two Isaiah.  Also, Luke puts these words into Jesus' mouth in chapter 4 of his gospel.  I will have all of chapter 61 read because it is so good.  For the reading, google The Bible at Your Fingertips.

Advent Wreaths: This little liturgical practice came to the Catholic liturgy, believe it or not, from the German Lutherans in the 1500's, the time of Martin Luther.  It was more than just decoration.  The circle symbolized eternity.  The greens, Christian life in a dead time of the year.  The candles represent each of the 4 weeks of Advent, each candle symbolizing the greater light brought by Christ.  Their color purple symbolized penance and purification for the Coming.  The Rose  candle says, 'We are almost there!'

Chosen Me to Bring Good News to the Poor

Last Sunday 15 of you donated blood.  Many of you chipped in to help with our adopted family.  Beth, who herself has donated a lot of time to this family, says we are close to having everything we need.  Others of you brought food.  And all of you brought food for the Anniversary Brunch, a feast, as usual.

A month or so ago I was honored to help bless the Habitat house that many of you helped to build.  

Every month you help to contribute $2,000 to our Collin County Adult Clinic, where everyone on the staff, doctors, nurses, technicians, and helpers, all work pro bono, gratis, without pay.  That is $24,000 you have donated to support this marvelous service this year.

The generosity of our little community, of you people often blows me away and always humbles me. 

Isaiah is talking about this.  He says Yahweh has chosen me and sent me.  He is obviously talking about himself, and the temptation is to leave it at that.  That's his job.  I would propose, however, that Yahweh is calling each of us.  We are chosen and we are sent to bring good news to the poor, to heal and to comfort.  The poor, the broken hearted, and the imprisoned are all around us.  If we don't bring them good news and comfort, perhaps nobody will.

When I lived in Tanzania & Kenya occasionally I would ask myself, "What on earth am I doing over here?"  This passage about bringing good news to the poor often gave me consolation and motivation.  I can remember reflecting upon the idea when I was traveling 4-6 lonely hours over dirt roads on my motorcycle to get to a center where I was going to conduct a week long or month long seminar for nuns and priests. 

In John's Gospel the writer is setting the scene, similar to Mark's reading last week.  He is using John the Baptist to make way for The Good News, the Jesus event that let's us know that Our God is accepting us, not condemning us.

The writer of this gospel is likewise crafting his work.  In a short space he identifies John the Baptist and prepares the reader for something greater.  Why is this important?  Because John the Baptist was popular, had his own group of followers, and could have been mistaken for the Messiah.  The gospel writer takes 4 steps.

Step 1.  John the Baptist's place in the drama: give witness to The Light, e.g., Jesus, The Good News.

Step 2.  A negative witness about who he is: not The Light, not the Messiah.

Step 3.  A positive witness about who he is: preparing a way & making straight the way.

Step 4.  Why is John the Baptist baptizing: preparing the people for One greater, The Light. 

The Light, The Lord, The Messiah that John's gospel talks about is the one who brings good news and comfort to the poor, the broken hearted, and the imprisoned.  He, however, cannot do it alone. 

This year each of you in our little community has helped out.  How are you bringing Good News and Comfort to the Poor today?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-12-14.mp3

Picture 1:  Serving, Lisa (Mom), & daughters Lorynne & Lacee

Picture 2:  Frank & Laura Reyes celebrating 26th

Picture 3:  Frank & Mary Esparza watched by Audry.

Readings:  

 2 Kings, 4, 42-44, Give it to the people to eat.

Psalm 145, The hand of the Lord feeds us, he answers all our needs.

Ephesians 4, 1-6, I a prisoner for the Lord.

John 6, 1-15, They filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments.

The Team

Introduction to the readings: 

To set the stage for todays readings, the Jewish religious feasts were celebrated in conjunction with harvest festivals.  For example, the feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits occur over a period of eight days when the barley was in the fields waiting for its first sheaves to be offered in thanksgiving to God. 

The Offertory Team, Charlotte, Harry, & Geri

Seven weeks later the Jews celebrated Pentecost at the beginning of summer when the wheat in the fields was waiting for its sheaves to be offered in thanksgiving to God. The feast of Tabernacles was the last feast of three feasts celebrated in the fall when the dates, figs and olives were harvested.  The thanksgivings given to God for the harvests were from the heart!

Cole

Our first reading from 2^nd Kings is an event in the life of Elisha, the prophet. The prophets Elijah and Elisha did not write books; they proclaimed the one god of all, Yahweh. They chastised the Jewish Kings who called themselves Jews but worshipped idols. 

Leo

Elisha is the head of a brotherhood of 100 prophets who are sitting with him in this first Reading.  Our second reading is a letter from Paul to the Ephesians addressing all those who welcome and live the good news of Jesus Christ. They are, with Christ, one body.

Emmett with his mom & dad, Amanda & Ben

The Gospel of John: 6:1-15    

If you have a reference Bible and looked up our first reading in 2^nd Kings 4:42-44 you would find in the margin, John 6:1-15, our gospel reading. Recall that the good news of Jesus, the Messiah, fulfills the expectation of his coming given within the Law, Prophets and Psalms [hence our Liturgy of the Word].  A non-descript man brings twenty barley loaves and a few ears of corn as first fruits to Elisha the prophet, a man of God.

Mike

There was a famine in the land; the man is giving thanks to God through Elisha.  Elisha welcomes the gift and tells a servant to set it before his 100 pupils.  His servant says that he can’t, for it won’t be enough to feed them. Elisha replies that the gift is from god. They will be able to be filled and have some left over.  The 100 have heard this, and they accept in thanksgiving this man’s gifts and their teacher’s wisdom.  They will eat each bite slowly, with continuing thanks, saving enough for Elisha and his servant to eat also.

Jean with John, the July coffee team

In our gospel reading Jesus, too, receives a gift of first fruits—five barley loaves and two fish. We know that it’s a gift of first fruits for we are told that ‘Passover is near,’ the grain is still in the fields. Andrew is like the servant in the reading from 2^nd Kings, saying, ‘What good are these for so many?  I’ve told you before that the stories within each of the four gospels that seem to be about a multiplication of loaves or fish, aren’t what they seem to be.

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Chris cuts the Ragbrai identification bracelet worn by riders. It gives the wearer discounts and free entrance to venues.

These parables anticipate what will happen much later, and they do happen. The loaves in these parables are symbols for the twelve apostles.  We are told here, that from the 5 loaves, 5000 are going to be fed; from five of the twelve to whom Jesus gives this mission, as Church, to feed the Jews with the good news. But, more importantly, there are 12 baskets filled with leftovers—indistinguishable from the anticipated twelve, who will have received the Holy Spirit! The church has grown by leaps and bounds.  It happens just this way in Luke Acts 3-4 after the twelve receive the Holy Spirit!  In thanksgiving we are called to recognize with one another, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ present within and among us.   We are his body!

Early morning heading south amid glorious countryside. Ragbrai: Register's Annual Grat Bike Ride across Iowa, this year about 450 miles over 7 days with ca. 12,000 riders. A Norman Rockwall painting, a parade of color & spirit through quaint & beautiful Iowa towns filled with people overflowing with hospitality.

Readings:

1 Kings  19, 9-13,  There was a tiny whispering sound.

 Psalm 85,   Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Romans 9, 1-5,  My kindred according to the flesh

Matthew  14, 22-33,  Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.

Georgie says, "Welcome, Everybody, Come in."

1 Kings observations:  

What:

There are really 2 books, 1 Kings & 2 Kings.  Or originally, it was all one work.

Even though 1 Kings focuses mostly on King Solomon & his accomplishments, the latter half of the work shows how at Solomon's death the kingdom split into two hostile & petty states, Israel in the north & Judah in the south around Jerusalem.  2 Kings ends with the Babylonian Captivity.

As I have pointed out concerning prophets, Elijah condemns the behavior, especially of the rulers, and promises punishment. 

When & Who:  The two books were put together by numerous people and the latest putting together took place, you guessed it, around the Babylonian Captivity, around 555 before Christ.

 Today’s selection: The prophet Elijah is running scared to get away from Jezebel.  She is out to kill him for his killing her fake priests.  We catch up with him in the desert.  

I love this little story.  See if you can figure out why.

Carol & David, too, say, "Hi, Folks, Welcome."

A Tiny Whispering Sound

We are having a run on delightful scripture passages these days.  The passage I love today is the scene where Elijah stands outside a cave and he sees wind, earthquake, and fire.  No God visit.  Then he hears a tiny whispering sound.  The God visit.  I would suggest we have these god visits daily, and we are often deaf or blind to the visit. 

To exemplify, our story of the week.

It is Wednesday.  Guess where.  Yes, Iowa.  The 4^th day of our ride from the Missouri River to the Mississippi.  We have only 40 miles to go from Forest City to Mason City, the city on which Meredith Wilson based his musical, Music Man.  We have only two pass through cities, Verona and Clear Lake.

Emma says, "Hi, Everybody."

So, I am thinking, ‘How can I extend this day.’  I want to savor the joys of the ride as long as possible.  Two or three miles out of Forest City I decide that at least I will stop at a coffee stand for a good cup of coffee.  Take my time, enjoy it, and watch the hundreds of people passing by.  This is the day after I was so moved by the man playing the National Anthem.

I see a sign for coffee in a hundred yards, pass by the stand, and pull over to the shoulder of the road, careful to get out of the way. 

The coffee shop is simply a four poster tent perched on the slope of the shoulder just a bit above the bottom of the irrigation ditch and dangerously close to the road for me. Very low tech.  A kid about 17 is serving coffee, muffins, bananas, watermelon, water, and who knows what else. 

Tori in her stylish attire.

He has a line of about a dozen people and is a bit frazzled trying to take money, cut watermelon, and prepare coffee, all of which is coming out of the back of his van which was perched sideways on the shoulder.  This is not Starbucks. 

However,  as people order coffee, he asks them to form a line on the other side of the stand.  I even regretted later that I did not help him, but at the time I thought I would be there all day long.  As it is, we are all trying to keep to the very edge of the road to avoid getting hit by one of the hundreds of bikers swishing by.

Zoe and her dad, Randolph.

Finally, the lady ahead of me gets to the kid, asks for what she wants, and discovers that she is $2 short.  I say, “Hey, I got $2,” and I give it to her despite her protests.  “Loan it to the next guy,” I say. 

Later that morning, say about 11:00, I pull into this gorgeous green, tree shaded, people filled park in a town called Clear Lake, on the northern edge of a lake by the same name.  For an hour we had ridden along the shore of this lake until I see the park.

I put my bike against a tree and settle on a park bench in the sun (it was so mild) in front of a band stand.  People are all over the place, hundreds, lounging in the sun, eating, chatting.  Between the park where I am and the lake the bikers are passing through.  I am facing the lake.

A shy Harper, for the moment.

I hang out there probably an hour.  I watch a group of guys ride up, bring out their electric guitars using batteries, and play for us.  I even get interviewed by a young girl from the De Moines Register.  These are my wind and earthquake.  I can see God's presence in both.  

And then it happens, the tiny whispering sound, a God visit.

From behind me a lady comes around, hands me $2, says, “Thanks,” and then vanishes back into the crowd leaving me speechless except for a quick, “Sure.”  It was the same lady from the coffee stand.

Cupcakes of the Week, Marsha, Denni, John & Jean, Mike & Carol, and Marlene.

I admit that the Iowa days were full of God moments for me.  This lady, however, was especially touching, a tiny whispering sound.   I never saw her again and she probably identified me in the crowd because of the Aviana beany baby on my helmet and the Mardi Gras beads I wear around my neck.  Moreover, Hammond says I look like a bum in my choice of attire.

When was your last God moment, your tiny whispering sound?

It's The 50's, Jean and John at 56, Mike and Carol at 50!

Readings:

Exodus  34, 4-6, 8-9,  A God merciful and gracious, never gets angry, rich in kindness and fidelity.

Psalm, Daniel 3, Glory and praise for ever.  

2  Corinthians 13, 11-13, Live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you.

 John 3, 16-18,   Peace be with you; receive the Holy Spirit. 

"Welcome in, Everybody," says Harper.

Exodus Story: 

So the Israelite people have been wandering around in the Sinai desert for many years after escaping from old Pharaoh in Egypt.  Moses has been invited up Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments.  

He comes down all loaded with two stone tablets written on both sides and discovers that the people have become exasperated with him and the wandering in the desert.  They have created a gold bull to celebrate with and to worship. 

Old Moses, all angry, throws down the tablets and breaks them.  He calls Aaron, his lieutenant, tells him to gather the Levite tribe, the priestly tribe, and he tells them to slaughter all the rest.  They do.

Emma, too, says, "Hi, Everybody, come in."

At this point our reading begins.   Yahweh tells Moses to make two more tablets and to return to the top of Mt. Sinai, where he will get another set of commandments.  It is here where that marvelous line about the nature of God is mentioned again, "The Lord is gracious & merciful, never gets angry, and is abounding in love."

This is ancient folk tale literature at its best, like Aesop's Fables.

Ugh, oh, Tori is missing a tooth.  Are you now a rich girl, Tori?

The Lord is Gracious and Merciful, never gets Angry, and is abounding in Love.  

I want to talk about this line this morning.  For me, of course, the line says it all.  This is my understanding of who God is and how he acts.  Consequently, this is a

You win, Buddy.  Tori lost one, you lost  TWO.  Congratulations.

to do it talk.  How to spot these qualities.

Of course, there are big ways, like visiting my beloved Yosemite, cycling Iowa & Hotter ’N Hell, and getting together Sunday mornings with all of you. 

There are, also, smaller ways.  Two examples this morning.

Rosemary, of course, rolls her eyes when I run my ideas past her. 

Zoe, I think you are rich too.  You got all your teeth.

The first took place Friday at 1:00, guess where.  Yes, at Jason’s Deli.  Our Romeo get together.  There were 4 of us sitting in the very back of the bus, just in front of the doors to the restrooms, Tom & Mike & Andy Sokolowski and myself.  At my left was an extra table & chair for other regulars who had not arrived yet. 

About half way through our lunch one of the assistant managers, Patrick, a tall, nice looking guy, comes back to our area to bring food to a couple.  He is usually really busy, even to bussing tables when the place is full.  This Friday is lighter than usual.

Welcome home, Alexandra.  Declin, you are a neat kid and you got a terrific mommy.
 

So instead of running back to work, Patrick comes over to our table, says hi to everybody, and accepts our invitation to sit.  He is just to my left. 

In the next 5-10 minutes Patrick shares a lot about himself, 28 years old, Plano resident since birth, almost got married once, but is peaceful.  Then back to work he goes. 

The trouble makers corner.  You guys have too much fun every Sunday.

The second event took place in our living room Saturday morning.  A couple came to talk about their wedding in August. 

I find weddings almost always touching and beautiful happenings.  This couple was especially a joy.  First of all, the groom is Austin Goode, whom I have known since way back, since St. Mark’s days.  Tom  & Becky are his mom & dad.  I am really touched by this.

The Anderlicks, John & Karen & Lisa.

If this was not bad enough, Austin introduces Rosemary and me to this delightful, pretty, and full of personality fiance’, Vika.  Her story is so marvelous.  Born in Belaruss, brought to the States at 4 with her whole family by, get this, the Jewish Community Center, which I loved even before hearing Vika’s story.  She goes to private Jewish schools, public schools, and graduates from SMU.  On top of all this Vika has this magnetic  personality.

I can see the personality of our God in these two events.  I can see that he is gracious and merciful, never gets angry, and is abounding in love.

Where do you see the personality of God?

Vika (in blue) with Austin and her parents, Ena and Alex Kuznetsova.

Genesis 15, 1-6; 21, 1-3 ,  Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.   This is the official selection.  But for us, I've included 16, 1-10; 17, 9-12; 18, 1-3 & 9-15.  This stuff is too rich to pass up.

Psalm 105,    The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

Hebrews 11, 8, 11-12, 17-19,  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called.

Luke 2, 22-40,   The purification of Jesus.

Sophia and Jack say, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in."

Genesis obserevations :

What : the very first book of the bible beginning with Adam & Eve, the two creation myths, Cane & Abel, Noah and the flood, the Tower of Babylon, and then the big 3 patriarchs of the Jewish nation.  They are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The book is a fun read.  It is not history, but speculation and tribal myth. 

Date: contemporary scholarship thinks that the work was composed either before or during the B.C., the all important Babylonian Captivity. Why?  Give the Jewish people a sense of historical identity and tribal cohesion. 

Mom, too, Candice, says, "Welcome, Everybody."

Today’s selection: all about Abraham, the first of the 3 Great Patriarchs.  Abraham is crying and lamenting the fact that he has no children.  Why?  Sarah was childless and Abraham was 99 years old.  A “we have a problem, Houston” situation.  The Lord hears Abraham and uses a beautiful metaphor to show Abraham what is going to happen. 

Because the editor of this reading has so taken the fun out of it, I want to read a bit more.  Sit back and enjoy the story of how Abraham and Sarah had a baby.   I'm including parts of three other chapters between chapters 15 and 21.

"I, too, just like my kids and my wife, say, 'Welcome, Folks.'" sez Ben.

Another Christmas Story

On Christmas Eve I told you a Christmas story and said that it was a Christmas event.  And what is a Christmas event?  It is an event where a person receives peace, joy, and light.  It usually happens between people.  But I can have the same event in a place, for instance, the Meyerson, or riding across Iowa on my bike, or backpacking in Yosemite.  It happens often to me here with you people.

"Cowboy Cole, What did you do in the Nativity Play?"  I was Joseph.  

In fact, somebody asked me why don’t you just take this Sunday off?  We were here just a few days ago.  I know why.  I am having too much fun here.  This is not an obligation, it is a treasure.

Anyway, our story goes like this.  It comes from Steve Blow, the columnist of the Dallas Morning News, December 25.  You may remember Steve has written Rosemary and me up a couple of times. 

Emma says, "I was a lamb in the Christmas play."

He says there was a lady named Renee of Lake Highlands on her way to work the morning before Thanksgiving.  She pulled into the neighborhood Whataburger drive through to get a pick up.

When she got her diet Coke, the girl in the window, who was very cheerful, said like, “This ought to pick you up.”  There was no one in line behind Renee, so she chatted, saying, “Well, at least, I’m off Thanksgiving and we can have a nice Thanksgiving meal.   How about you?”

The Best Nativity Drama.

The cheerful girl said, “No, she had to work and the Thanksgiving meal would have to wait until she could earn the money to buy the food.”  She had two jobs to make enough for herself and her two children.

By now a new customer had pulled up behind Renee.  She had to move.  Before departing, she blurted out, “I’m going to get you Thanksgiving.”

Jazmen Woods, the Whataburger girl, said customers tell her stuff all the time.  She pays no attention.

Santa's Helpers Darbyanna and Dana.

But that afternoon, Renee called the Whataburger and later took a whole Boston Market Thanksgiving meal to Jazmen’s apartment in the Vickery Meadow area of northeast Dallas. 

That was only the beginning.  Renee discovered that Jazmen had hardly any furniture for herself and her two young children.  So she went on line to her neighbors, telling the story saying, “If you would like to contribute to making Christmas special for this sweet family, please feel free to join me.”

Who dat? Lookls like Joseph and Mary on a donkey (alias Cowboy Cole and Zoe).

You know the rest of the story. 

Another Christmas event that gives peace, joy, and light. 

Like I asked Christmas Eve, When were you touched in this special way? 

And to whom do you share peace, joy , and light?  (Besides to me.)

Source, Steve Blow, Dallas Morning News, December 25, 2004

Who is that?  Is that Victoria? No, that's an angel.

Special Mass today celebrating Our Joan Gleason

Readings:  

 Exodus, 16, 2-4 & 12-15, I will rain down bread from heaven for you.

 Psalm 78, The Lord gave them bread from heaven

Ephesians 4, 17, 20-24, You should put away the old self of your former way of life.

John 6, 24-35, Sir, give us this bread always. 

Joan with her pastry

Exodus observations:

What:

 Exodus is a fun book and a good read.  It comes after Genesis & it has three main sections.

 One – the struggle between stubborn old Pharoah vs Moses & Yahweh.  Pharoah loses.  You can imagine the Passover had a significant impact. 

Two – the time of wandering in the Sinai desert and the covenant, that is, the 10 Commandments

Three – the coming into the Promised Land. 

This all took around 40 years, and so we have stories in-between.  Today’s is one of these, showing Yahweh feeding his grumbling people.

Joan with us

When written:

Toward the end of the Babylonian Captivity, around 550 before Christ

Who wrote it:

Not Moses, but people who lived centuries after this mythical character.  How much of this is historical is a question.  The story greatly encouraged the Jewish people enslaved in Babylon.

The Gleasons

Our selection:

An amusing account of the Jewish people grumbling against Moses.  They say they would prefer to be back in Egypt than in this infernal desert where they are wandering in the heat & sand.  We can sympathize with them in these days of 100’s.  They did not have a/c.   So Yahweh feeds them.  See how.

One of Joan's favorites, The Brunch

Joan

I would like to say a few words this morning about Joan.

When we started our little community almost 8 years ago, I had 3 dreams. 

First, I wanted the community to be totally inclusive.

Secondly, I did not want to take up collections during our celebrations.

Thirdly, I wanted to provide coffee & donuts & juice free to the community.  I figured coffee & donuts invited people to hang around and chat.  We had no other Mass starting.   Why not hang out?

Curtis is 83 Today!

For a year, maybe two, we provided coffee & donuts & juice every Sunday.  It was delightful.   At some point I noticed that a cake was showing up every week.  I asked Rosemary had she noticed.  She had noticed, but did not know who was doing it. 

With a sung happy birthday from the community, Curtis receives a birthday cup cake.

Guess who it was.  Yes, Joan.  Without anyone asking her, she just started feeding the community.   How appropriate are the two readings today that talk about God feeding his people.   This is so Joan, feeding us, feeding God’s people. 

This was just one way Joan touched my heart and our hearts.  Another way came through her marvelous spirit.  One Sunday a couple of weeks before she died, Rosemary & I came to visit.  Joan was sitting up in a recliner chair, looked great, and was pert as ever.  As we departed I blessed her and touched her head, or more accurately, her hair.   “Don’t mess my hair,” she cracks.  I had to laugh.  “Joan,” I said, “I can see, there is nothing wrong with you.”    Well, there was.  She just did not show it, even though she was approaching the bridge. 

See how far we have come on our Habitat House

Another side to her spirit was the manner in which she dealt with her condition and the approach of that bridge.  There were only 36 days between the day the doctors discovered her cancer and the day she died.  What did she decide to do with the three treatment plans?  She said she did not want any treatment.  Everybody has their day, she told me, and she was ready for hers. 

Tom, our Habitat Man, with day laborer

I asked her how she felt about dying.  “Fine,” she said.  No hesitation, “Fine.”  She had moved through the psychological stages of dying in a lightening flash, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and arrived at acceptance.  I am privileged to walk the last mile with a lot of people.  Seldom am I so touched by such marvelous acceptance.

Would you trust your house to this laborer?

After Joan had told me she felt fine about her approaching death, she told me she had one wish.  That her family remain family.  She repeated this the night we all got together so everyone who wanted to could talk about what was going on.

Joan gifted us all with this family, Jerry, Maureen & Bill, Debbie & Tom, T.J. & Sean, and all the other grand kids.  Thanks for being a gift to me and to our community, All of You.

Hospitality and Lunch area with Carol and Rosemary. Special thanks to Tom and Lynda for coordinating lunch for everyone.

I would like now to read the neat little prayer Joan has on her card.  It is so Joan.

          To Those I Love & Those Who Love Me

When I am gone, release me, let me go.  I have so many things to see and do.  You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears, be happy that we had so many years.  I gave you my love and you can only guess how much you gave me in happiness.  I thank you for the love you have each shown, but now it is time I traveled on alone.  So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must, then let your grief be comforted by trust.  It’s only for awhile that we must part, so bless the memories within your heart.  I won’t be far away, for life goes on. So, if you need me, call and I will come.  Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near, and if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear all my love around you soft and clear. And then, when you must come this way alone, I’ll greet you with a smile and say, “Welcome Home.”

What is the greatest gift Joan has given you?