COMING HOME

Sandy was born and raised in the Catholic faith. She attended very conservative Catholic schools and was totally indoctrinated by those who taught her. She believed.......she trusted.....she never questioned.

As she grew older, graduated from college at a time when very few women attended college and married; she found that she had to open up her mind to the entire world around her; not just the protected world and years of childhood in the safe cocoon of home and Church.

Once she did that, she started to question some of what she was taught. Some of the scare tactics that kept one in line for fear of God and going to hell. She believed in a more loving God and had a hard time comprehending these scare tactics.

She also felt betrayed by two priests who she believed in. They did not practice what they were preaching.

And.....so like many others, she stopped going to Church.

Still that tug was there......she felt a void when she passed a Church and did not go in.

Years passed and this successful, intelligent woman no longer felt the tug nor the void. Her faith in God was still strong but not her belief in organized religion.

Her son loved the architecture of old Churches and every time that he would visit out of state, he would encourage her to visit different Churches with him. She agreed, but only AFTER Mass was over.

As he wandered in awe of the beauty of many of the old Churches, she reflected in prayer and found peace while meditating.

Soon she would stop in for a quick visit even when her son was not visiting. She did NOT attend Mass. She still felt a sense of betrayal. Her reasons were her own and as I was told her story, I did not question...........

She began to feel comfort in those visits.

A friend invited her to brunch one Sunday and suggested that they attend Mass together and then go to brunch.

It had been so, so many years since she had attended Mass.

As she listened to the homily, the Priest had mentioned some of the things that were taught in error due to misinformation and personal interpretation eons ago. They were some of the same things that she had questioned. The Priest talked about our loving Father who welcomes us with open, loving arms. With unconditional love........ This Priest touched her heart with his homily.

Brunch with her friend was great and also the ensuing conversation about the Church community that her friend belonged to.

Sandy decided to talk to the Pastor of the Church about her concerns. He helped her to see her concerns in a different light.

She made the decision to go to confession and attend Mass for a time. When she received Holy Communion; the Priest looked into her eyes when he said, "Body of Christ". He smiled as she answered, "Amen".

An overwhelming feeling of love for God and her fellowman came over her at that moment. SHE WAS BACK WHERE SHE BELONGED............

The celebration of the Mass was so different from the latin Mass of years ago. She listened to every word and reflected on what she heard. The first time that someone turned to her and offered their hand and said, "PEACE BE WITH YOU", she was not sure how to respond. Now that is a very favorite part of Mass for her.

People in the congregation turn to one another and say, "PEACE BE WITH YOU". Some people hug one another. There are many smiles as men, women and children express peace to one another. One can feel positive feelings of love and peace in this atmosphere.

Sandy felt so welcome. So much at home.

A friend invited her to brunch.......a kind, caring Priest answered her questions...members of the congregation wished her peace......

SHE CAME HOME TO THE CHURCH THAT SHE LEFT MANY YEARS AGO..........

A GIFT OF LOVE AND LIFE; AN ACT OF STRENGTH AND COURGAGE

The most difficult decision was to donate his skin to burn victims; one who was an infant.

Many years ago, I met a couple with four small children. We developed a life time friendship along with other young couples who had small children. This was a group of energetic, enthusiastic, fun loving, church going, community minded volunteer workers and most of all loving families who raised their children in a loving atmosphere.

We rejoiced in one an others success. We tried to comfort one another during times of loss. How can one comfort someone who has lost a child? Who has lost a spouse?

I would like to share the story of one special family at this time.

Vince was a sixteen year old who was returning home late one evening when he lost control over the car that he was driving. He hit a tree and died. He and his parents believed in organ donation. As most parents, they expected that Vince would be there to carry out their wish to be organ donors. Little did they know that he would pass on first.

He was a young man in good health and many lives were saved from his gift. His parents had never talked about or considered his skin. When they were approached about donating his skin as well, they needed to think long and hard. They made the decision to donate his skin to a number of burn victims.

They were made aware of the successful transplants and the lives that were saved as a result of being an organ donor.

Years passed and the memory of Vince remains strong in the hearts and minds of all those who loved this young man during his short life.

His parents had a very long and successful marriage, raised their other children and became proud grandparents. Now was the time to enjoy retirement.

For a short time they were able to do this, then Ron became ill. Last November, he passed away.

We live quite a distance away and the last time that I saw him was at my husbands memorial service. Ron and Sharon were a great comfort to me. I hope that in some small measure, I was a comfort to Sharon.

Sharon has a great sense of humor and she told me that Ron had always wanted to go to medical school and that he finally made it. As his final gift to his fellowman, his body was donated to the New York Medical College. I could hear her heart breaking as she told me this.......I could relate.......

I would like to quote from his obituary, "Ron's beautiful soul was revealed in his warm smile, the laughter in his eyes and his heart much bigger than his size. His sense of wonder and awe of nature, art, music and beauty was a gift to all who knew him."

I truly admire this family who firmly believed in helping others. Their unselfish love of their fellowman was shown first as an organ donor of their child and then Ron's desire to have his body donated to a medical college.

I googled information about the position of the Catholic Church concerning organ donation and donating ones body to science.

In an article published in 2005 titled Organ donation -- the life saving agreement by Brenda Rees she wrote: "The unselfish act of becoming an organ donor recently took on a new shine with the revelation that Pope Benedict XVI is the first Pope on record as being a card-caring organ donor." " To donate one's organs is an act of love that is morally licit, so long as it is free and spontaneous," he said. Pope John Paul II described organ donation as "everyday heroism".

Pope John Paul II's encyclical, Evangelium Vitae discusses this issue.

Ron has joined George as well as our other friends in Heaven. The legacys that they left behind are everlasting. The memories precious.

Grace Moments by Dolores Martin

Recently, I added the titles of a number of writings to the right side of this page. This was done at the request of some readers who wanted to share a specific story with someone without having to scroll down through all of the various stories.

Please look at the various titles and simply click on the one that you would like to read.

Many people have Grace Moments in their lives. Please contact me at dmdoloresmartin@gmail.com if you would like to share your story. Your story may just be the one that someone needs to read.

ARE YOU GOD?

Do you believe that I am? I believe with my whole heart that you are God. He replied, "THEN I AM".

Delia passed away on April 10. 2008. Her daughter, Diane, was at her side. Diane experienced a "revelation" at the time of her mother's passing.

Many of us who have lost loved ones can share experiences of what happens at the time of passing ( or as in my case, approximately one month later) For those of us who experienced a first, some question their sanity. The reality is that our loved ones are reaching out to us and letting us know that they are HOME and HAPPY.

We are all capable of receiving these messages, however, our minds must be open and receptive. In these stress filled times, that is difficult for many to do, but once it occurs........comforting messages are relayed to us.

I would like to share Diane's story with you.

Delia was dying of cancer. Diane was her caretaker during this difficult time. She rarely slept and tried to comfort her mother as best she could.

This was precious time spent with one another. Diane was going through difficult times of her own but her mother provided comfort that all would work itself out.

As the time of Delia's passing drew near, she was unconscious. In the wee hours of the morning, approximately 3 hours and 24 minutes before Delia died.........Diane saw angels surrounding her mother. She also saw deceased relatives surrounding her mother.

Another figure appeared. She could not see a face, simply a figure in a white robe with a gold crown on his head. She communicated, Are you God? The man replied, "Do you believe that I am? She replied, "I believe with my whole heart that you are God. He replied, "then I am".

She looked at her mother and saw a transformation and softening of facial features as her mother passed away. Her mother was 88 years of age but looked much younger as she passed. The wrinkles seemed to disappear, the pain was gone........her face had an express of pure joy.

Diane thought that she was going crazy. She relayed what happened to her friend Susan. Susan told her that her faith was strong and people of strong faith experience moments like this.

Her mother is HOME with our HEAVENLY FATHER. Diane is a peace knowing this.

AN OLD FASHION CHRISTMAS

Christmas, the birth of the Christ Child.

As a child growing up in a Polish neighborhood in the coal mining area of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., I remember all of the love and preparation for the wonderful day of Christmas.

There was little money to rush to the mall to purchase presents. Actually, we did not think of that. Christmas and Advent were special. We prepared for the birth of the Christ Child. The good Sisters who taught us at Marymount, helped us to make simple gifts to share with family. We made Christmas ornaments to decorate the tree.

This particular Christmas, there was no money for a tree. Actually, Dad had $1.00. We joked that maybe someone would sell us a tree for a dollar. Mom simply said that we would have a Christmas tree.

Both Mom and Dad had such a total simple FAITH THAT GOD WOULD PROVIDE.........AND HE ALWAYS DID.

The tree was secondary to the NATIVITY SCENE. Most of the people in the neighborhood spent time building an elaborate NATIVITY SCENE in their homes in preparation for Christmas. Many of these scenes took up a good portion of ones living room.

The week after Christmas was spent visiting one an others homes to view the various NATIVITY SCENES and THE CHRIST CHILD LAYING IN THE MANGER. Everyone would have a beautiful Christmas tree.

Dad could build anything. He would turn scraps of wood into something useful. Mom showed us how to create so much from very little. We created a beautiful NATIVITY SCENE.

We fasted, we went to Church. We visited hospitals and old folks homes. We sang Christmas carols. There was little commercialism. The TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS was everywhere. We were happy and joyful. The fact that there was no money that year was not a concern. GOD WOULD PROVIDE.......all that we needed.

We waited until Christmas Eve morning to look for a tree in the hopes that they were on sale and one could be found for $1.00. We knew that we would find something. I simply did not expect what transpired.

Every decent looking tree was gone. Dad was determined to bring something home and not disappoint Mom. I watched him turning a few trees around. They all had a partial good side. I thought that Dad would purchase one and put the bad side against the wall. I was amazed at what he did. He negotiated to purchase two trees with bad sides for less than $1.00. Before he showed the trees to Mom, he took them to his workshop and cut the bad sides off. He then wired the two trees together and made one beautiful tree.

We had a beautiful tree to put along side our Nativity scene, just in time for Christmas Eve Supper.

This festive meal is a very important meal in Polish tradition. It contains an odd number of meatless dishes. Many dishes simply shared just on this special day. Hay is placed under the tablecloth and an extra place is always set at the table. Mom whispered to me that she hoped that Christ in disguise of a needy person would knock on our door and share this meal with us.

This meal would begin after the first star was sighted in the sky. At such time, we would share the oplatek, which is a thin wafer provided by our Church.

After this festive meal, gifts were shared and we usually went to midnight Mass. I did not expect any special Christmas gift that year because of the financial situation in our home. What a surprise when Mom and Dad brought out children's furniture that Dad made from small pieces of wood. A cupboard for some small dishes and a buffet.

That was over 50 years ago and that furniture has been passed down to many children to enjoy.

After Midnight Mass, we would socialize with friends and neighbors and then head home for another snack of those wonderful foods that we could not touch until Christmas Day.

This was such a wonderful Spiritual time. A time for reflection, a time for prayer, a time to rejoice the BIRTH OF CHRIST.

I would like to wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A JOYOUS, HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

"TIS BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE"

Eileen was diligently saving money to purchase a blue fox fur coat that she had her eye on. Every so often, she would visit the furrier who carried this coat and try it on.

She had saved $1,600.00 so far toward the cost of this beautiful coat. Soon she would have enough money to purchase this coat, perhaps in time for Christmas.

One evening, her sister, Barbara, called from her home in another state. They talked on the phone every week but had not seen one another in several months. Barbara was divorced and worked at a job that provided the bare necessities but there was rarely enough money for extras.

She always seemed to turn lemons into lemonade. She was a happy person.

During this particular conversation, she was not her usual upbeat self. Eileen sensed that there was a problem and asked what was going on.

Barbara said that due to circumstances that she could not control, she had fallen behind on her mortgage payments and had just received notice from the bank that they were going to take action against her unless she came up with $1,800.00 within a short period of time.

She had no way to raise that amount of money and was resigned to losing her home. She was going apartment hunting that afternoon.

She DID NOT ASK EILEEN FOR A LOAN.

Eileen, without hesitation, told Barbara that she would send her a check for $1,800.00 to bring her mortgage current. Barbara said that she would try to repay her as funds became available.

Eileen simply said that this money was for future birthdays, Christmas etc. and was a gift.

BYE, BYE fur coat. Eileen knew that if she had purchased that coat at a time when her sister was in jeopardy of losing her home, that she would not enjoy wearing the coat.

EILEEN STILL NEEDED A COAT......

She went shopping and saw a Jordache fake fur coat that caught her eye. It was originally $250.00 reduced to $75.00. She continued to try on coats but her eyes kept going back to that Jordache fake.

She purchased that coat. It turned out to be a coat that she called HER HAPPY COAT.

Whenever Eileen wore this coat, someone would come up to her and admire it. This did not happen, once or twice, but EVERY TIME THAT SHE WORE THIS COAT.

There was nothing special about this coat except the reason that she purchased it. She came to realize that this coat was special because of how she came to own it.

She came to believe that every time someone complimented the coat and how well it looked on her that this HAD TO BE A MESSAGE FROM GOD letting her know that HE WAS PLEASED with her action.

She does NOT RECEIVE compliments on her other coats.

She has gained weight and no longer can fit into this coat. She recently donated this coat to charity. She hopes that the woman who now wears this coat, receives as much pleasure as she did from wearing it.

As I contemplated writing this story, I googled, JOY OF GIVING. I came upon an article from Science Central.

"Brain imaging research is unwrapping what's behind the joy of giving."

"You give from the heart and.....it satisfies your brain," says Jordan Grafman, chief of the Cognitive Neuroscience Section of a division of the National Institutes of Health.

Studies were conducted using a technique called functional MRI. " They were not surprised that when people received money, it lit up structures deep in the brain associated with the release of the chemical dopamine, which is known to trigger feelings of pleasure and reward."

"But as they reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, donating to charities lit up the brain's reward circuits even more than receiving cash.

TIS BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE............

IT MUST BE A CATHOLIC CELEBRATION

Ron and Regina left Michigan several days ago for a new venture in their journey through life.

They are driving to their new home in a tiny fishing village north of Merida, the capital of the Yucatan. They cross the border to Mexico in Brownsville, Texas for the remaining 1400 mile journey around the Gulf Coast to the Northern Yucatan area that is their future home.

Any long trip such as this is a challenge. One needs to be prepared for the unexpected on a journey such as this. They encountered obstacles and detours. They encountered beautiful scenery and hospitable people.

They were traveling on December 8 and it seemed as if everyone was celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The roads were filled for hundreds of miles with children carrying wood statues of Mother Mary. Many carried torches or candles. Autos were following behind this vast procession of people showing their love of the Blessed Mother.

Regina stated to Ron, IT MUST BE A CATHOLIC CELEBRATION. They had not encountered a celebration such as this while back home.

George and I joined in the joyous celebration of the Immaculate Conception many years ago while we were in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was a memorable experience. The joy and love of the people of Mexico for the Blessed Mother was so intense. The emotions filled our hearts.

Puerto Vallarta is nestled between the rugged sierras' and the ocean. We were staying on a beachfront property but ventured up into the rugged terrain on occasion. The road in the mountain area is steep and winds down the mountainside.

We were several miles away from the village and normally would take a taxi to our destination. But not this night.

As we left the resort, we looked to the mountain road on this dark night and witnessed an unbroken line of light moving slowly down the steep, winding road. It was an incredible sight. We were told that all roads to the village were filled with people carrying statues of the Blessed Mother, burning torches and lighted candles.

It would be impossible for a taxi to pass into the village from our location. It was suggested that we eat at the resort.

NO WAY!!!! We had never witnessed such a beautiful scene before and decided to join this procession of thousands of people walking down the mountainside to gather in the village and honor our Blessed Mother.

We forgot about dinner and fed off the energy and love of the beautiful human beings that we interacted with on this lovely night.

All loved our Blessed Mother very much and that love totally filled the atmosphere.

What a beautiful night to remember. December 8, 1985.

GOD'S COVENANT WITH HIS PEOPLE

During my wanderings, I enjoy looking at old architecture. My son shares this passion and we visit many different Church's together when he is in town. I seem to see something new and interesting where ever we go.

One beautiful evening, I had attended Mass. Mass ended on a beautiful scene. I hope that others witnessed what I saw. So often we overlook beauty in nature and our surroundings. We often do not see what is in front of our nose. I seem to see everything and am constantly in awe.

GOD IS THE ULTIMATE ARTIST and shares HIS art work with us for our enjoyment and as a message of HIS INFINITE LOVE.

Father Adamkiewicz had finished Mass and was slightly to the left of the processional cross. He was facing the congregation. The sun was shining through the stain glass window. It projected in such a way, that a rainbow was forming from the middle of the Cross and ended directly behind Father Adamkiewicz. The color's blended into a vibrant pink and sky blue. Sky blue turned into the dominant color.

This scene reminded me of a rainbow ending at a pot of gold. Except, as in this case, the pot of gold was Father Adamkiewicz.

As he moved from the altar, the colors started to fade and when he turned to face the altar, the rainbow disappeared. This scene left such an impression on me that I wanted to remember it and someday do an abstract oil painting of it.

Whenever I see a rainbow, I always take time to look at it. I have always associated the rainbow with positive things but never took the time in my busy schedule to see if there was any specific meaning to the rainbow.

Something was tugging at me when I returned home and I started to research RAINBOW.

I googled RAINBOW AND COLORS.........I would like to share what I learned. I should have learned this in the past and who knows, perhaps I had been told this before and DID NOT HEAR. Too often, in our busy lifestyles, WORDS ARE SPOKEN TO US BUT WE DO NOT HEAR.

"The colour blue is frequently associated with the TABERNACLE. Blue is also associated with the COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, the importance of remembering them and also the heavenly calling of those who had been chosen by GOD to be HIS people."

"Blue is also connected with that which is HOLY IN GOD'S SERVICE".

The colour blue was so intense in the arc from the cross to the priest. Was GOD trying to tell us something?

There was so much to read about the colours of the rainbow and then the article led into GOD'S COVENANT WITH NOAH.

I am the product of Catholic schools. I attended Church, almost everyday while in school. I graduated from a secular university but still made a daily visit to Church until I married and children arrived.

For some reason, back in those days, we were not encouraged to read the Bible. What we learned from the Bible was interpreted by our Priests and Nuns. So, I listened but did not always hear.

Now, I am catching up and reading the Bible.

GOD'S COVENANT (Genesis 9:8-15)

COVENANT'S PROMISE (v.11)

"I ESTABLISH MY COVENANT WITH YOU: Never again will all life be cut off by the WATERS OF THE FLOOD; never again will there be a flood to DESTROY THE EARTH".

COVENANT'S PROMISE (vv.12-15)

12,13. And GOD said, "This is a SIGN OF THE COVENANT, I AM MAKING BETWEEN ME AND YOU and every living creature with you, a COVENANT for all generations to come: I have set my RAINBOW IN THE CLOUDS, and it well be a SIGN OF THE COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND THE EARTH.

14,15 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the RAINBOW appears in the clouds, I will REMEMBER MY COVENANT between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life."

"One lady stated that her first connection between the GOD OF SCRIPTURE AND THE GOD OF HER OWN LITTLE WORLD as a child came after being read this account of Noah and the flood in a Bible-story and being shown the rainbow after a particularly heavy rainstorm. Such an association is EXACTLY WHAT GOD INTENDED. The beauty of the brilliant spectrum of light in the sky is to remind people of any age, in every age, that they have a connection to GOD. It is up to individuals to determine if they will be faithful or faithless in their responses to the GOD WHO MAKES COVENANTS WITH US."

SEE THE RAINBOW, REMEMBER GOD'S PROMISE.........

Because of the beautiful scene between Father Adamkiewicz and the Cross, my life has been enriched with the story of the rainbow and a REMINDER OF GOD'S LOVE AND PROMISE TO US.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

This is a very special day in more ways then one. My daughter's birthday many times falls on Thanksgiving day. My son, Christopher's birthday is December 25. We have much to be thankful for.

I had mixed feelings last Thanksgiving. I knew that I had much to be thankful for and yet the pain that I was feeling from George's unnecessary death in the hospital was so deep.

Last year, as this year, I started the day with Thanksgiving Day Mass. I sat next to the same person who I sat next to last year. I DID NOT KNOW this gentleman last year but have come to know him since then as a faithful member of our St. Edwards community.

Last year, Father Butler asked everyone to turn to the person next to them and say what they were thankful for.

The gentleman next to me said that he was thankful that his wife, who was not well was feeling better. Intense emotion arose in me and I blurted out, fighting back the tears that I was grateful that my husband was no longer in pain and was in Heaven.

I was in deep emotional pain as I left Church. I have so much to be grateful for but I broke down and cried all the way home. It was my daughter's birthday and also Thanksgiving and so I drove around the area until I was able to put on a happy face. After all, I am the rock of the family, people rarely, if ever see me cry. I made it through the day with my happy face, but broken heart.

The next day, I started to pack my suitcase for a three month journey. One that I had promised my husband that I would take. One that would put me back into the world of the living. One where I would count my blessings everyday. One where God sent me in a very tangible way, a message that I was on the right track. One where lives were touched. What a gift from both God and George.

George was a very wise man. He knows that my word is my bond and that I would follow through on a promise. He asked me to do something for him. He wanted me to take a trip by myself, to places that we had never been. To face something different and to do one new thing a week. THE FIRST STEP WAS THE HARDEST..........

Do one new thing a week?????? I thought that it would be hard but I found myself doing one new thing every day for the first seven days. At this rate, I did not have to do anything new but boy!!!!! the challenge was there. It was an easy challenge, made even easier because of the wonderful people that I met. My journey was an inspiration to them as they were an inspiration to me. We fed off of one another. I thanked people.....they thanked me.....we hugged, we laughed......ALL ALONG THE WAY, I FELT THE LOVE OF GOD AND GEORGE......They wanted me to be O.K. and I was going to be O.K.

I could write a book about those three months but more important is the direction that my life has taken since I returned. Writing Grace Moments is something that I never in a million years would have ever expected to do. I was never very good in English and hated to write anything.

The picture of the rainbow at the top of this page was taken from the balcony of the condo that I had been staying in during the first leg of my journey. The day after I took that picture, I walked the beautiful beach of S. Hutchinson Island and was so mesmerized by the birds, wildlife and people that I met that I walked over 13 miles before I realized it. TALK ABOUT A FIRST.......I seriously doubt if I ever walked more than 4 miles prior to that day.

I was totally inspired by everything that I did that day and everything that I saw. I thanked God for the beautiful rainbow and HIS help in healing my heart. I looked at that rainbow and thought that it was beautiful but did not know the significance of the rainbow at that time. Something happened when I returned home, that made me look at rainbows in a more profound manner. A truly inspirational manner. I learned that a rainbow is God's Covenant to Man. At a later date, I will write about that.

And now fast forward to this wonderful day....I have so much to be thankful for. I did not leave the Church in tears. When I turned to the gentleman, who I now know, during my favorite part of the Mass when we say, PEACE BE WITH YOU, I hugged him and later asked about his wife. I remembered what he had said last year. He said that she is still frail and so I said a prayer for her as I left Church.

The common union of our Church as Father Pat so often speaks of inspires me and makes me happy. For this I am grateful. The Spirit and love that I feel as a result of this common union is something to be grateful for. I try to give back in some small way all that has been given to me in love and friendship. If I can make a difference in the life of someone..........this I am grateful for. My family and friends and also all of those strangers who approach me and compliment the Cross that I wear......and exchange words of FAITH ........this I am grateful for. For the blessing and gift of a loving heart.........this I am grateful for.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND MAY THE PEACE OF THE LORD BE WITH YOU

AN ANGEL ON EARTH HAS BEEN CALLED HOME

"The extraordinary thing about Kathleen King is not that she was run over by her own car on Monday.

It's that at 80, Ms King was at work."

This is a quote from the Albany Times Union.

Ms. King was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. She reached out to help her fellowman in need in whatever capacity she was able. She was AN ANGEL ON EARTH. People like Ms. King make a difference in the lives of the people that they touch. Many people have no one to see or talk to. Then there is a knock on the door, and AN ANGEL ON EARTH is there with not only a meal but a kind word and smile on their face.

According to the Times Union, "she called her clients, "her peeps". She came to adopt them as her extended family. For one man, like so many clients who usually see no one else except the postman and a Meals on Wheels volunteer, she'd take home his clothes to wash or sew buttons."


As people are living longer, there are many who are living alone but need some help. Volunteer programs like Meals on Wheels and other volunteer programs help people to stay in their homes and live out their remaining years in dignity. Our ANGELS ON EARTH provide a much needed service. Many of these ANGELS are your friends and neighbors. They are the ones who are always busy, rarely gossip and are usually upbeat even when their own hearts may be breaking.

They are there to help whenever and where ever they can. THEY ASK NOTHING IN RETURN.

I have never met Kathleen King, but I have a vision of her in my head, that shows GOD waiting with open arms to embrace her as she was recently called HOME.

On Tuesday, she was delivering a meal to one of her "peeps", when she was hit by her car. "She got out of her car and walked around the front, only to realize, too late, that she hadn't put it in park. It hit her, pinning her underneath it. Though rescue workers arrived within minutes, she was hospitalized with a head injury".

This morning, as I began my day with reading the morning paper, I read with sadness that she died. I said a prayer for this ANGEL ON EARTH but rejoice in the firm belief that GOD greeted her with a huge smile, open arms and said, "WELCOME HOME".