When my dad died my mom wanted this song for his funeral. She said it was because Daddy died in the morning. I can’t hear this song without thinking that. Daddy was sick his entire adult life. The last two years he was in and out of the hospital. We really thought he would survive once he had a kidney transplant but it was not to be.
With this pandemic we know people who are dying at all ages. These are people who are healthy one minute and on a respirator the next. When I hear of people who have died I am obviously sorry to hear it but then I think about Daddy dying at 41 and Mom dying at 49. Now that I’m in my 60’s I truly realize how young they were and I am so grateful that I have been blessed with the life I have.
I was listening to an old Oprah guest talking about her relationship with God. She talked about starting every morning with prayer and meditation. I was so lucky during the great Covid quarantine that I had the time to start my day with prayer. I started with a devotional, moved on to some reading I was doing or bible study, and ended it with writing my prayer for the day. I always ended it with “what can I do for you today, Lord?” Some days I was able to get my rosary in first thing but other days that would have to come later. I remember Peggy Noonan writing about a friend of hers praying the rosary on the treadmill. Peggy asked her if it helped. She replied that she wasn’t sure but she was sure if she didn’t do it that she could tell a difference in the way her day went. I think I can tell when I don’t pray.
I have recently gone through a period where my prayer life got lost in my day. I felt that I had morphed my prayer from being so structured and scheduled that it became more active. I didn’t ask myself “what would Jesus do” to “Lord, what do you want me to do for you today?” And I came to realize that he wanted me to do what I loved. He wanted me to write. He wanted me to be there for those who truly needed him. He wanted me to represent him on earth. Doesn’t he want us to help those who need his help, in any way we can help?
I just finished a book by Sr. Joan Chisterer, another Oprah guest, and she had a whole chapter on being a prophet for God of God. I equate this with being a saint on earth. Again, the arrogance kicks in. But after I pray the rosary I have my own litany of saints who have gone before me. My litany includes 12 people I personally knew and I ask them to pray for me, to help me through the day. And I have just as many, if not a whole lot more, that walk this earth with me. If I need them I never hesitate to ask for their help. Sr. Joan also has a whole chapter on the confidence to be a prophet.
What is so exciting to me is that I get to wake up every morning and do what I love, be with those that I love, interact with those who need me. As I pray to Mom and Dad every day I hope I make them proud. I know they would tell me that I do.