Particularly you who plan several weeks ahead are noticing that I am falling behind. Expect that trend to continue. My 91 Year old father is coming to the end of his long full life on this earth. So life is overtaking blogging for me at this point. Please keep my family in your prayers.
thinking of you all in this time of transition, and remembering you in prayer.
ReplyDeleteFinding your blog has been a blessing to me and the children that I serve. I am praying for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your personal trial at this time, and appreciate your commitment to "us" in the internet world who use your blog as a resource.
ReplyDeleteYou and your loved ones (Pops included) are in my prayers.
terry
Peace to you in this journey. You are never ready to lose a parent, no matter how long you've had them. I will certainly remember both of you in prayer.
ReplyDeletePrayers for you and your family Carolyn! Hoping you are finding hope in good memories and the love of The Church!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Offering prayers for you.
ReplyDeleteDearest Carolyn,
ReplyDeleteNo matter what our age, we will always be daddy's little girl ... not only to our physical father here on Earth, but also for our Heavenly Father whom someday we will meet when it is our time to go home.
Hopefully, these past 90 years have been for your father healthy with vim & vigor! Nevertheless, we are never ready especially for "our dad" (especially if we were blessed with a good father... honest, just, loving, disciplinarian, reverent, leader, beloved by others, kind, giving, trustworthy, faithful, patriarch) to no longer be around physically. In our heart ... he'll always be, and he will never be far away, he'll always be near to us & with us in memory. Maurice Maeterlinck, one of my favorite authors who wrote the fairy play, The Bluebird of Happiness, says that when we think of those who have gone before, they 'wake-up' for those moments, and how precious that time spent together with us is ...
As we approach Father's Day, may these final days of your papa's life be surrounded with LOVE, LOVE, LOVE and DEVOTION. May those he loves be at his bedside, even if he isn't coherent enough to know physically, he will in his heart know that you are all there.
Sing to him, rub his feet, play his favorite music in the background, pray over him, read to him from the Bible... hold his hand, caress his face.
Loss is never easy... but Jesus empowers us to be strong and brave, not meek... but He does understand when we get into our funks. Jesus walks beside us - carrying us, if need be, taking us through our darkest nights...showing us Light once again which never diminishes & is always ready to give us her warmth, and her energy when we are ready to bask in God's 'Sonshine' - thus letting our true light shine brightly glorifying Him.
Your light, Carolyn, is a blessing to so many whom you touch not only in your ministry, but also to countless others who you reach out here in cyber-space. I am certain your father is so proud of the beautiful Godly woman you have become - his pride & joy, making his heart glad.
I am blessed by you, as I teach the children in my ministry more in depth about Jesus. I have grown deeper in my understanding of our Liturgy because of you and feel blessed to be able to pass this knowledge on. Hopefully, one of these days I won't be last-minute on my lessons, so I can share some of the wonderful add-ons I find or create as you have done - so brilliantly well.
I pray for your father - that these days be relaxed & peaceful for him without pain. For you - for strength; for peace; knowing that many stand strong beside you (although it may only be in spirit or thought - I am honored to be counted as one of those many; for comfort & respite. For your family - encircling you all with God's compassion, His Love and His Healing to ease the grief as everyone processes the love for your dad in their own way, hopefully looking towards Jesus, our risen Lord - who completely understands as he has been there Himself physically bearing more than we can even fathom - helping each and everyone of you on this journey of new beginning of life without dad.
Of these things I pray and lift up to God the Father, His Son, Jesus, and to the Holy Spirit which encompasses all who believe in Jesus' name.
Thank you for the beautiful gift of you.
~ Philippians 1:3
- Dana Dabov, Children's Ministry Director, Christ's Church, Yucaipa, California xx
Prayers for you all.
ReplyDeleteI am holding you, your father and your family in prayer. May his final journey into the Mystery, and your walk alongside him be upheld by God's loving presence and drenched in grace.
ReplyDeleteYour ministry has been important to me since the early 90's when my own kids were young and I depended on "Forbid Them Not" to assist me in preaching and worship planning. And now your blog is one of the first places I turn every week.
Be blessed in this sacred time of your family's life.
Carol in Chicago
Such a kaleidoscope time of life. Strength, courage, and peace to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteFrances
Bless you both and your whole family this night, and in the days and weeks ahead.
ReplyDeleteHappy Father's Day to your Dad.
Blessings,
Angela in London