We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe

By From the Heart | Geralyn Nathe-Evans | Together We Journey

Nov 02

The liturgical season of All Saint’s and All Soul’s has arrived. I really have come to appreciate this season and find it perfect for my ability to embrace all that it can teach me about living into our baptism and death.

At the moment of our baptism, we are baptized into new life in Christ that also recognizes we will die in Christ to live again. An incredible concept and I continue to be in awe of  all that this means for my life, and my death.

santi-cielo-fra-angelico1-1We begin this month by remembering and celebrating the saints. Our heritage, our lineage, our relatives in our Catholic family…our saints. All those holy men and women that we can rely on to pray with and for us…our saints. Our own holy group of those who have gone before us, living faith-filled lives, many sacrificing their earthly life for faith. Many of the Saints we recognize are those that our Church has officially canonized. Then there are the group of people who by living their lives, have inspired, touched and continue to hold a piece of our heart – the people whose lives have interfaced with ours and we are better for that blessing.

We also take this time to remember all the souls of those who have died. In our parishes we take the time to name our beloved who have died this past year, light a candle and support those that are grieving. We trust in their eternal salvation and a great reunion one day. A time to pause and remember all who have loved us and we have loved that have died as well as those who continue to live on in this world.  We trust in their eternal salvation and a great reunion one day.

But in the meanwhile we journey through our lives without them in our physical lives.

dsc_0417I know this journey and pain well, my beloved soul mate and my life’s great love died. He was a wonderful friend, husband and the very best father God could have blessed our sons to have in their lives. He was a faithful and faith-filled man of God and of service and humility. So when this time of year now comes around, for the third time since Dave has died, I realize how much more this season and time means to me. I am exhausted from his death. I miss him, I miss who I am with him and I’m not so sure I like the person I am without him. Grief permeates my life and the ripple effect touches those in my life.

I can through my personal experience come to more fully realize more than ever the pain that people who have lost their loved ones journey with. How much it can mean to hear the name or memory of our loved ones. To remember that they are not forgotten, they are still in our mind and hearts as well of the minds and hearts of others. Even when their name is not spoken it is on our minds. We remember, we celebrate them and we believe in the resurrection.

All Soul’s Day has become a great season for me to stop and take the time to remember others who have lost their family and friends. To take the time to make a phone call to let them know I hold them in thought and prayer. To send that sympathy card that was never sent at the time of death. To remember.

I have come to embrace that these days of All Saints and All Souls are very much of memorial, for those who have died and for those who continue to journey in this life her on earth.

Geralyn Nathe-Evans has been called to the vocations of wife, mom, Lay Ecclesial Minister, nurse and friend. Read more about Geralyn on our Meet Our Bloggers page.

Geralyn Nathe-Evans has been called to the vocations of wife, mom, Lay Ecclesial Minister, nurse and friend. Read more about Geralyn on our Meet Our Bloggers page.

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(2) comments

Bernie November 5, 2016

Thanks for inspiring us with your journey reflection.

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    Geralyn November 14, 2016

    Thank you for honoring my story

    Reply
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