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"Cast all your worries upon [God] because he cares for you." (1 Pt. 5:7)
Good morning.
I bring to you today stories of honor for my aunt and godmother Evelyn from our family. Being the youngest and growing up being the only one at home, my life centered on my parents and my family. Packing up on a Friday and heading to Beaumont to visit the Watz’ for a weekend was a monthly occurrence as was going on vacations, shopping or doing various ‘Kresta girl projects’. And there were always a lot of projects. See the descendents of Edward and Johanna Kresta found their lives centered on family activities. Yes we had work and school and friends, but there was always a constant presence of our extended family in our thoughts and activities. It molded our values and set a course for our lives. We were taught to dream big and work hard – no reward would come without its fair share of struggle. And we were taught to struggle with grace.
Psalm 63 – O God, you are my God – it is you I seek? For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts in a land parched, lifeless and without water. I look to you in the sanctuary to see your power and glory. For your love is better than life; my lips shall ever praise you. I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, calling your name. My soul shall be sated as with choice food, with joyous lips my mouth shall praise you. I think of you upon my bed, I remember you through the watches of the night. You indeed are my savior, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me.
I honestly don’t remember an event that Evelyn was not a part of in my life. She also came to see my boys play in football games; swim in swim meets, went to their graduations and, like my childhood, brought them to Beaumont on vacation. When she came on ‘vacation’ at our house she would wave them off on the bus in the morning with a cup of coffee in her hand and greet them with snacks and her cup of afternoon coffee when they got home. When my mother Sylvia, one of Evelyn’s sisters passed, she graciously helped me with my son Hayden and she became part of his strength. And Collin, Brandon and Andrew were also added to her fold of love as so many in this room experienced. And they adored her.
Psalm 33 – Our soul waits for the Lord, he is our help and shield. For in Him our hearts rejoice; in His holy name we trust. May your mercy, Lord, be upon us; as we put our hope in you.
Now as many of you know cooking is a HUGE part of our family. We tolerate bad food but rejoice in good food. Food made by our family brought us together at many family functions but it also served us as a communicator of love. I can’t count the number of times that after a family gathering in Beaumont I started opening up the ‘goodie bag’ as we drove down I-10 around Winnie. No matter if it was a ham sandwich or chocolate sheet cake, those bites were declarations of love that only my family could provide.
And there was our faith; it was a family function as well. Every family gathering started in prayer, ended in prayer and held discussions of how or when we could get to Mass that weekend. Many of our trips were to go to church picnics or view churches while on holiday. Through all of this I learned that we are put on this Earth not for ourselves and not for earthly things or possessions but to help each other earn grace in God’s eyes so we can ultimately be deemed worthy of Heaven. This should be our focus in all we do and say.
Now I never was able to know my brother Timothy. He died right after he was born. I knew it was a dark time for my family but never really understood the extent of it until Evelyn explained it to me. So I always felt that Timothy was my guardian angel. Today I was able to read the second reading which was a reading from the book of Timothy. I chose two readings for the end of my note today, one from Timothy and the other from John.
So to Evelyn who has been in training for many years to become a guardian angel and who will now get to shine brightly:
John 6:38-40; Because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this will of the one who sent me that I should not lose anything of what he gave me but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life and I shall raise him on the last day.
"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Sunday, November 30, 2014 |
