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| Photo Credit: mconnors from morgueFile.com |
Over the weekend, my
seven-year-old daughter came up to me with a knock-knock-joke. I thought it was going to be like every other
knock-knock-joke, but it wasn’t. This
one was different and it went like this:
Daughter: Mom, will you remember me in a second?
Me: Yes.
Daughter: Will you remember me in a minute?
Me: Yes.
Daughter: Will you remember me in a day?
Me: Yes (wondering
where all of this is going…)
Daughter: Will you remember me in a month?
Me: Yes, of course.
Daughter: Will you remember me in a year?
Me: Absolutely, I will!
Daughter: Knock, knock!
Me: Who’s there?
Daughter: Hey!
It’s ME! You said you would
remember me!
Me: (tickling
her just to hear her sweet laughter)
YOU! You got me! All jokes aside, you know I will NEVER, NEVER,
EVER forget you!
Daughter: I know, Mom. (smiles,
giggles, and runs off to play)
One of the readings at
Mass over the weekend just so happened to be about Jesus never forgetting us. It was from Isaiah and it’s one of my
favorites. I just love the simple song
that Carey Landry wrote, inspired by Isaiah 49:14-15.
“I will never forget
you, My people.
I have carved you on the palm of My hand.
I will never forget you.
I will not leave you orphaned.
I will never forget My own.
I have carved you on the palm of My hand.
I will never forget you.
I will not leave you orphaned.
I will never forget My own.
Does a mother forget
her baby?
Or a woman, the child within her womb?
Yet even if these forget,
Yes, even if these forget,
I will never forget my own.”
Or a woman, the child within her womb?
Yet even if these forget,
Yes, even if these forget,
I will never forget my own.”
Isn’t it such a great
feeling when someone remembers you? That
somehow, in some way, you made a difference in their life or day and they
remember you. I love it!
In fact, just last week,
I received the sweetest little note from Ms. Wilson, the librarian at St.
Philip’s in El Campo. St. Philip’s is the very first school author
visit I did back in November and I will never forget it. Her precious note indicates that she won’t forget
it either. I’d like to share her words
with you today:
“Hello! I hope your new year has been outstanding so
far! I just wanted to thank you again
for coming and reading to our students!
Also, I wanted to say thanks for your donation to our school. I used the funds to purchase a book called,
“A Woman in the House (and Senate): How Women Came to the United States
Congress, Broke Down Barriers, and Changed the Country.” My thoughts were that it’s a book about women
doing important things, and you (as a female author) are doing important,
special things, too! Thanks again so
much, and let me know when your next book comes out!”
Yes, this absolutely
made my day! She remembered me and she
let me know.
Do we let others know
how special they are to us? Do we assure them
that we’ll never forget them? Are we
blessed to have one or two or twenty special people in our lives that we will
always remember? Then, let’s tell
them. Let’s show them.
I’m often reminded of
how short life is. There isn’t an unlimited amount of time to
spend with those we love so dearly. There
have been too many sudden deaths lately that I’ve heard about. It makes my heart ache for the loved ones
left behind.
There was one death
recently of a man that I never actually met.
But, I couldn’t help but notice the endless outpouring of loving
facebook posts about him. His visitation
even had to be held at our local community center! Wow! That
in itself speaks volumes.
His name was Bobby
Nicholson Sr. (aka Coach Nic) I read soooo many beautiful tributes about him
that it’s impossible to share them all here.
However, what I took home was the fact that his life genuinely touched
thousands of people. He coached. He mentored.
He inspired. He educated. He influenced. He cared.
He led. He loved.
Apparently, he also
gave the very best motivational speeches ever! It sounds like he was an absolutely AMAZING
man who left an unbelievable legacy of Cobra pride and helped shape and impact
countless lives along the way. I hear he
had a great sense of humor and gave equally as great hugs. I pray for all those who miss him deeply.
In the words of
Isaiah…so many will obviously never ever forget you, Coach!
In the midst of
sadness, I look for comfort. I find
some peace in the fact that when this incredible gentleman and others who have
left this earth approach the Heavenly Gates, Jesus will be waiting on the other
side.
When they say,
“Knock-knock!”…Jesus won’t say, “Who’s there?” Instead, He’ll say, “Of course I remember you! I could never forget you! Come on in!”
