Monday 29 September 2008

For You Are Ever With Me














God be with my Dad today as he travels through the shadow of death. Hold him up and bring him home and hold him close and kiss him and have prepared for him all of his sweetest dreams.

For you are ever with me Dad. For you held me up and brought me home and held me close and kissed me and gave me a life with all of its sweetest dreams.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

~~ By Thomas Merton (late Trappist monk, Catholic priest, poet, and social activist) ~~

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Renee and everyone in your family:

My heart and prayers are with you all today.

May God give you all the strength and comfort that you need now and always.

Flo

Anonymous said...

Renee,

I am so sorry. I didn't know my heart could break so much. Your dad was such a special, kind soul. I know he'll be ok now, and he'll always be listening, so you all keep talking to him. He'll hear you and he'll comfort you the best that he can.
Please accept my sincere heartfelt sympathy.
Caroline

Anonymous said...

I lost my dad in 1991, over the last many years, Henri & I talked almost every day. He always said good night to me as old son. In many ways he was a distant father to me. 100s of hours we spent hosting together, we talked about everything, he was a huge support to me. Seemed like every week there was a new addition to the family, he filled my hard drive with pictures.

Henri will be greatly missed by so many.
May God watch over him.
John

Torontosrose said...

Our condolences to you and your family at this horrible time....your dad was a wonderful man whom i got to know in the past year while hosting backgammon with him. He was so proud of all you kids and grandkids and great-grandkids. Always bragging about you all. Big Hugs to your family especially your mom.

Torontosrose and HurricanePower

Renee said...

Hello Caroline, John and Torontorose:

I want to thank you all for your wonderful comments about my Dad. I also want you all to know that you are all right. He is wonderful.

I realize my post may have been misleading in the sense that my Dad has not died yet. He is hanging by a thread and has not woken up in about five hours. We know it will be anytime.

But all of us will graciously accept your best wishes.

I know that my Dad's friends from the games were very important to him.

I know all about you sweet Caroline and how much you mean to Dad.

John, my Dad did consider you like a son. I remember all this time how my Mom and Dad would talk about John and his mother.

Torontosrose, I am sure my Dad would be quite pleased that you posted about him.

Thank you all and keep us in your prayers.

Love to you all. Renee

Anonymous said...

Your Dad will be missed by a lot of people for whom he hosted backgammon. He was a kind and gentle man, always positive, never negative. He loved his family deeply and spoke of them often.
His A World United Gammon hosting family sends their prayers and sympathies to his family.
Be at peace old friend...

Anonymous said...

Renee,

I am so sorry about your dear father.
I feel like I knew your dad because of your wonderful and heartfelt stories about him. How I admire him and your family.
Please know that you and your family are in my heart and prayers.
Love you,
Yvette