Ascension : News From The Grotto -Thought For The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 11.02.2010 (Article Archived on 25.02.2010)
The second reading today is one of my favourite passages in the Bible. It is without a doubt one of the definitions of love that I have ever come across.
The second reading today is one of my favourite passages in the Bible. It is without a doubt one of the definitions of love that I have ever come across.
“Love is always patient and kind: it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.”
Everyday in our lives, we see examples of this type of love. Recently I have read the letters of an American serviceman, one of the men of the 38th Engineering Regiment who helped to build Wideawake Airfield. These are the letters that he wrote home during almost four years away from the United States, first here on Ascension, then Africa, England and Paris. They were saved by his mother and are a treasure. He was married shortly before he shipped out, and then didn’t see his wife for the next few years. But his love never wavered, and after he returned, they went on to build a life together and were happily married for over sixty years. You don’t see that kind of commitment much anymore, it seems.
Just last week my aunt passed away, after a long life, and surrounded by loving caregivers, and her son, daughter and grandson. My cousin Martha went to great lengths to insure that her mother would remain at home, and spend her final days surrounded by what was familiar to her. It wasn’t easy, but her love for her mother enabled her to do it. She wanted her mother’s last hours on this earth to be as good as they could be.
We see examples of true love all the time; all around us. We also see the exact opposite, those who think they are in love, but in reality, it is something else. If it doesn’t fit into the definition of St. Paul, then it really isn’t love. What we see on television, and in movies is generally something different. The secret is to recognize the difference.
True love survives the trials that this world brings to us as part of our journey. There are so many different ways that we love those in our life. Parents love children, children love their parents, partners love each other, we love our friends. There are so many expressions of our love for each other. It’s in the caring, the being there for someone, in feeling our heart smile when we see those people we love. It is the reason my room is filled with pictures of my children, my parents, my friends and my grandson.
I don’t need a photograph to remind me of how special they are to me, but it brings a smile to my face, my heart and my soul every time my eyes light on one of the photos. The pictures of my children as youngsters remind me of the good times we had then. The more recent photographs remind me of how proud I am of the people they have grown into.
I have photos of loved ones who have moved on to be with God. The photos of my father remind me of how lucky I am to have had such a special man as my dad. He’s been gone for seven years now, and I still miss him. I have photos of my grandparents who I loved deeply. They remind me of where and who I came from. I have pictures of the Porter family, beautiful pictures of those lost way too soon. They remind me of how lucky my daughter was to have them in her life. They also remind me that every day is a blessing and one we should never waste.
I also have photos of good times with friends. They remind me of how very blessed I am to have so many wonderful people in my life to share these good times with. I have to say that I love digital cameras! They allow us to take as many photographs as we want, and save the best. The young children of today will have even more memories and reminders of their childhood, taken by the folks in their lives who loved them. How wonderful is this? I know that my little Dominik has already been the star of a great many photo sessions!
So however you chose to remember those you love, and those who love you, whether it is in pictures, letters, or memories, let us always be grateful for all that we have.
Love is a gift from God in all its many forms and expressions. So remember what love really is and remember how many people truly love you. And remember to count the blessings in your life.
May God bless all of us this week, especially those we love, and who love us.
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