Monday, May 2, 2016

Family

Dad, nephews, myself on the first row.  My brother and sister in law, and her parents on the second.

My youngest nephew celebrated his first communion on Saturday.   Not being a Catholic, I wasn't sure what to expect, especially with a Latin Mass.  

The church was filled with light, and the deeply moving sound of Gregorian chant.   Lacking an understanding of the words was no hindrance to feeling the presence of God.  Sitting next to my father, and watching my nephew and my brother in the pew in front of us,  I wished that my Mother could be present and see this.  

I looked at her wedding rings, which I wear, and they winked and sparkled in the light, and the realization was that she was indeed there:  as a part of myself; as the love my father has for her; and as the love she bequeathed to my brother, his wife, and their three children.  


Love binds us as a family, in the present, to the future, and beyond death.  I am deeply grateful for the love my family shares.

10 comments:

  1. No tengo duda de que fue un día muy especial... lo celebro! :)
    Y también creo que de vez en cuando debemos detenernos un momento y bendecir nuestra familia porque es sin duda lo mejor que tenemos.
    Gracias por esta entrada! :) ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Estoy de acuerdo contigo, Zuleta. Y es fácil de olvidar y no tomar tiempo para ser gracias ful para la familia y la fe que compartimos.

      Gracias por visitarnos :-)

      con gusto,

      Beth

      Delete
  2. What happy photographs. And the young men all look so handsome. So glad you had a wonderful celebration. You are so right about how the love of family binds. I would be lost without my own sons. Big hug, Carol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Carol; they are fine young men, and a lot of fun to hang out with :-)

      warmly,

      Beth

      Delete
  3. Hay que disfrutar de estos maravillosos días de reunión familiar.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Querida Isabel, me gusta todas las veces que puedo pasar con mi familia. ¡Gracias!

      con gusto,

      Beth

      Delete
  4. What a beautiful post and a beautiful family. All the best to you all. Happy Mother's Day to all. Love and hugs, Lois

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for the lovely comment, Lois :-) Happy Mother's Day to you as well!

      warmly,

      Beth

      Delete
  5. Such lovely family pictures! It sure brings back memories of that era when my eldest son was also an altar boy. They surely do make us proud.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is good to see these traditions continued. Thank you for your lovely comment :-)

      warmly,

      Beth

      Delete