Celebrating Life {Part 2}

After celebrating the new life of precious Lily Claire (at the same hospital where Palmer was born), my mom and I had an opportunity to celebrate the life of my dad.

{taken December 2012 before my parents had a date night to a Matt Wertz concert}

My dad spent his final days in hospice.  The care and compassion that my parents received during that time was top notch.  Last week Alice Hospice held a memorial service.

The service was lovely and was very well done.  There were words on grief and healing shared by the hospice chaplain and one of the hospice grief counselors.  There was also a "placing of stones ceremony."  As families entered the memorial service, each person was offered 2 small stones.  During the service there was a time to place one of the stones in a small fountain as a way to honor your loved one.  The other stone was for each person to keep as a remembrance stone.  There was also a candle lighting ceremony and the names of those being remembered were called.

A Litany of Remembrance was read and I have posted it below:

Litany of Remembrance, taken from Jewish Prayerbook

In the rising of the sun and in its going down,
we remember them.


In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
we remember them.


In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring,
we remember them.


In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer,
we remember them.


In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
we remember them.


In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
we remember them.


When we are weary and in the need of strength
we remember them.


When we are lost and sick at heart,
we remember them.


When we have joys we yearn to share,
we remember them.


So long as we live, they too shall live,
for they are now part of us, 
as we remember them.

There was also guitar music performed by Robert Thompson.  He played a variety of hymns.  At the conclusion of the service he played "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles.  

{my mom and I before the service} 

{my mom's friend Naomi also joined us}

I plan to email the two gentlemen that spoke and ask if they have transcripts of their messages.  One central theme they shared is that you can honor the life of your loved one by living out their best traits.  My dad's life was characterized by his love...his love for the Lord, his love for my mom, his love for his family and his compassion towards all.  I pray that God would fill me with love to the point that it overflows....a life overflowing with love is one small way I can honor my dad's life.

{April 2013}

I love you dad.