“In 2019, I’d like . . . [1]
In 2019, I’d like . . . . to be alive, healthy and remain cancer free. This first sentence had stayed with me for the past few days. I just could not get past it.
That is, until yesterday morning when I was talking to a good friend whose 96 year old father-in-law had just died. If ever there was a person who exemplified “God’s greatest glory is man (woman) fully alive”, it was Henry. No matter how complicated or mundane the task was, he put his whole heart and soul into it.
When you were with him, he gave you his full attention. There was no one else in the world for him at that moment.
He faced facts quite realistically, but always with grace and humour. One day he said to me, “I find that the older I get, the more I supervise.”
His relationship with his grandchildren was a joy to behold. In fact, the last conversation he had, just a few hours before he died, was with one of his granddaughters.
The door to his home and to his heart was always open. Not only did he welcome you, but you became a part of him, a part of his extended family.
And so to honour Henry, I will amend my first sentence . In 2019, I’d like to be alive, fully alive, fully open to all the possibilities the new year will bring.
Peter Bisson, SJ
Posted at 01:06h, 09 JanuaryThank you very much Maria! Happy and blessed New Year!
Paul Baker
Posted at 09:11h, 09 JanuaryMaria, your story reminds me of my dad. His name was Barney. We lived in rural, northwestern New Brunswick. When I was a child in the 40s, I remember my dad saying to a visitor at our home that they were always welcome to stay for dinner, but if they could get a better meal elsewhere he would not be offended!
Peter Larisey
Posted at 10:19h, 09 JanuaryNice going Maria. Your 2019 is beginning very well indeed,
and mine will be better because of your blog.
Esther Buckley
Posted at 20:18h, 10 JanuaryExcellent New Year’s resolutions Maria.
Wishing you all the best in 2019 and always .
Esther.