On one of my recent walks, I found the impression of this leaf left
behind in the concrete pathway. The
leaf, once young and green and bursting with life is now but a memory. But memory lives on.
Like the impression left behind by this leaf,
we are left with the deep impressions of the people who shone most strongly in
our lives. We keep them alive, long
after they are gone from us.
Pictures. Letters. Precious cards. Stories of times shared
together that become family lore.
No matter how we keep our memories, they remain solid and clear for a
long time. Like an impression in
concrete, only time will erode the impression.
Seasons pass. People pass.
Becoming memories themselves. For as long as the line lasts, the memory
lasts. It may fade but it never quite
disappears.
"The Christian who unites his own death to that of Jesus views
it as a step towards him and an entrance into everlasting life. When the Church
for the last time speaks Christ's words of pardon and absolution over the dying
Christian, seals him for the last time with a strengthening anointing, and
gives him Christ in viaticum as nourishment for the journey, she speaks with
gentle assurance."
We are all children of God and this prayer is for all His
children.
Go forth, Christian soul, from this world
in the name of God the almighty Father,
who created you,
in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God,
who suffered for you,
in the name of the Holy Spirit,
who was poured out upon you.
Go forth, faithful Christian!
May you live in peace this day,
may your home be with God in Zion,
with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,
with Joseph, and all the angels and saints. . . .
May you return to your Creator
who formed you from the dust of the earth.
May holy Mary, the angels, and all the saints
come to meet you as you go forth from this life. . . .
May you see your Redeemer face to face.
7 comments:
Wonderful truths here Annie. Thank you just for thinking these thoughts. Need more people like you in this world.
Thank you sweet Annie, for this love and acknowledgment of this passage that we will all go through. But for those of us still here... it is a time for allowing for all the emotions of loss to find their way through us, and to hold those memories for as long as needed... I so appreciated your words for my dear friend Judy. That you saw her spirit through her smile and the light in her eyes. XO
Losing a loved one always stays with one. We try to move on as best we can. Thank you for this.
Some who don't get it about losing a loved one may not say the words, but it is felt by the one who's grieving that one "should get over it!" Of course, we don't get over it, but most get through it.
The words for the Christian soul are very reassuring and comforting.
You said it very well. No one can take your memories away.I enjoyed visiting and reading your caring thoughts.
Quite beautiful post Annie!
This is very beautiful. Yes, you are right -- there are many losses in my world this year, direct and indirect -- and the holidays seem strange, though probably not so strange for me as for their families. This is a lovely post and very timely.
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