And life goes on

It happened Friday.  You know the call -  the "this is the call you knew you'd get but didn't want to get today" call.  My sister called to say that our father had been admitted to a hospital in Sioux Falls and wasn't expected to live through the day.  Yeah.  That kind of call.

I knew that the 3 hour drive was too long - I'd never make it in time and he probably didn't want anyone there.  I did know that the most good I could do was to go to church and pray and my sister agreed.  (Remember, I'm the lone Catholic in this clan.)  Then, God's miracles happened one after another.

The man had not been a part of our family for almost 30 years.  My sisters and I got married, he didn't come.  Perhaps alcohol, pride and guilt kept him away.   There was no contact information on his charts.  The hospital did some searching through paperwork, found my sister's name and googled her to find a number to call to see if she was family.  My sister called his brother, who gathered the other siblings.  They met my sister at the hospital.  But he passed before family arrived.  That's when we found out that he'd been diagnosed with cancer a year and a half ago but refused treatment and hadn't told anyone.

I asked my sister about the time of his death, and naturally, it was about the time I started praying at church.  I prayed the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet and still felt restless.  So, I stayed and prayed.  And wished that Father would come, I really wanted to visit with him.  Within minutes Father came in the sacristy door, and after our visit, I left the church with a smile on my face.  All was well.

Saturday I had a commitment to speak at a prayer cenacle.  There's absolutely nothing more comforting that joining other women in prayer.  I knew as we prayed the Rosary together, that God had placed me in the right place and at the right time.  When I got home, I called a great-aunt back home to make sure that someone had called her.  We had nice talk and set up a date to see her when we're back home next month.  Another blessing - I'll get to reconnect with family I haven't seen in a very long time.  (My great-aunt is the closest Catholic relative I have!  She's 88 years old, can't let this chance pass me by.)

Today (Sunday) I asked Father to add my Mass intention to his list.  In a way, the Mass on this Holy Trinity Sunday and Father's Day, became like his funeral service.  Remember the readings?  The Old Testament reading was about Moses and his stiff-necked people.  The New Testament reading was from John 3.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

I believe in God's powerful and unending mercy.  Saint Faustina's diary reads that Jesus told her He would promise victory over enemies especially at the hour of death.

Our father was a holy man many years ago.  He left this earth a broken man.  And I'm thinking that Heaven is even more appreciated by those who live alone and die alone after years and years of hurt, anger, guilt, and disease.

A small private service will be at the family farm in a couple weeks.  His ashes will remain where he grew up.

Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord.