The Need of Family:

                 
                    As I journeyed with my father and sister on this trip to northern Ontario, I was so appreciative of the ability to travel with them. I know my father has slowed down a great deal and although he said he could keep up, it was somewhat of an arduous trip for him. My sister, now in her third year of recovery from ovarian cancer, undertook her first major trip in six years. Seeing aunts, uncles and cousins was at once joyful and a reminder of the richness of family. Though we did not live together (and in some cases that was probably a blessing for them as it was for me), the bond of family is so deeply woven that when we gather, it is as though we were together only yesterday. The visit to the cemetery where grandparents, great aunts, and uncles are buried warmed the heart and released a rush of memories. The realization that I am connected to all these people, and they to me, is wonderful and challenging. This special bond of kinship and love is rooted in our faith. The “yes” spoken and commitment made by countless family members made my existence possible. I thank God for my family and am reminded of where I come from, what role I play, and what I must still accomplish. Each of us is a link in the chain of life, love and faith. May we all be strong links in this blessing called family!

            Respectfully in the Lord,

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