Last Words…

The constant loss I have experienced over the last two years has been very sobering. I have longed for the reprieve from loss in this life, its sting and the heartache that seems to linger. The funeral count for those dear in my life is nearing ten in number in just over two years.

Our family is blessed to have a good and holy Priest, my cousin, Fr. Paul. He has been a blessing to our family as a spiritual leader who personally travels back home to celebrate the funeral rites for each family member as we have slowly endured the loss of a generation over the years. Today, he spoke of heartfelt memories for my family’s beloved Tio Hector. He spoke of Love and how it is freely given and freely accepted.  Fr. Paul spoke from his own personal witness of the importance of love and how love doesn’t end not even in death, for we carry that love in our hearts. With a resounding firmness, hope and piercing clarity he stated, LOVE CONQUERS ALL. Love doesn’t die, it endures even amidst pain and loss.  He reflected on how our family has always shown one another great love in simple gestures and how our family always knew that there was great Love amongst one another. Our Tio Hector showed that love to all of us.

As I sat in the pew of Santa Rosa church, mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted my heart longed to hear his words. Because he spoke Truth and ultimately that is what our hearts search for in this life.  I felt many memories rush back as that church has been the sanctuary of so many funerals from years past, of loved ones who have gone before me, precious aunts, dear uncles…my beloved “Ama”.

Fr. Paul  shared his father’s last words to him, his own father’s last instructions to him before leaving this earth. He told him, “Take care of each other”, “Love one another”, “Help one another” and thus that was the ringing message in all our hearts. We are family and we will always be united by Love.  We must cherish each other, help each other but most of all LOVE one another.

My Tio Hector, left behind great love in his beautiful wife, children, grandchildren, sisters and little brother who miss him greatly. My heart prays especially with great fervor, for his children and grandchildren as they have endured this loss for a painfully long time and I ask you to say a prayer for them too.

In this life, family is all we have, some become family by birth and others we adopt along the way and the question I ask you, is this:

What can you do? What can you do to help your family? Whatever comes to your mind, I encourage you to do all things with great love for one another. Remember to always, “Take care of each other”, “Love one another”, and “Help one another”…