Everyday at 17:00 hours

SING as if no one is listening. DANCE as if no one is watching. LOVE as if you have never been loved before.
Retrieved by Pat Darnell
[SOURCE Unknown]

" ... Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport.. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, 'I love you, and I pray you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I pray you enough, too, Mom.'

They kissed, and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'

'Well...I'm not as young as I once was, she lives so far away & has her own busy life. I have some challenges ahead, and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I pray you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

She began to smile. 'That's a prayer that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.' She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I pray you enough,' we wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.'

Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear..

I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Then, she began to cry, and walked away.

They say, it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire life to forget them. ... "

Letter to my Friend upon his Father's Illness

John Michael Talbot




REFER to: At the Hospital -- Dad UPdate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpHNJaikup0

Dear Dr J:
This is something I want to share with you and your family; and of course it is made possible only through our wonderful and at same time dubious youTube social networks.

I attended a John Michael Talbot concert in Evanston, oh, 28 years ago. The place was a converted Armour mansion, in a large ante-room. His audiences were much smaller back then, but his music no less demanding.

This morning; I am reminded of JM Talbot because you mention 1Cor 11-13… which are the most life changing verses in New Testament living.

Once I realized the true definition of Love; there are in the end three things that last — there is faith, there is hope and charity. From this standpoint the greatest gift of all is Charity, our highest love. And God is Love. In this truth only then was I released from my obsessions and various adolescent behaviors… go figure. You, probably saying: “…but, you still act like an adolescent… PD… ” (/`-} aaargggh, Mateys!

John Michael Talbot is a purist, or apologist, Franciscan, and gives the same introductionback then before concerts that you hear published in these youTubes. In all respects he is amazingly consistent, except his audiences are much larger. Good all around… gives that old spirit a lift…

Not found here, though recorded in his tapes\albums include 1Corinthians 13: “Love is patient, love is kind…” I would sing it for you if I were there. Again you probably saying,”Thank the lord for small miracles…”

It is I who says thank you for sharing. You and your family’s bravery is making us all brave too.

I just wish when I will be old, to be healthy because you can never tell how things are going. I guess your father is lucky [and blessed] to have you around. (Ovid)

Love and hugs from the Darnell’s,
PD and Clan

ps. Dr J -- if you are visiting here, I want you to know I have cousins, and a brother who need very much what you have provided in your recent postings.