Thought For The Day
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
I cannot imagine the pain of the parents who lost their daughters.
My troubles are nothing compared to theirs.
Agreed
I have a lot of kids of that age in my life currently (my own + family, friends, etc ), and just *imagining* something like that happening to them brought me to devastation, so I would guess the reality would be damn near infinitely greater than that for those who did lose their children. My daily rosary intentions lately have included them. Lord have mercy on them all.
If that was created by a family member, bless them.
If not, bless them also, but it’s not the time. It’s not just ok to grieve the deaths of loved ones, it’s necessary. Yes, the Lord brings little ones like these home. But He had to wipe their tears away from each of their eyes.
This elides that necessity.
Says the man who had had had two children at camps this summer…including one during the same week.
Valid points Dale. After my son died I was sunk in despair until God allowed Larry at his funeral to give me a fraction of the peace and joy he was feeling in Heaven. As a mystical experience it shattered my sorrow instantly. Tears I would still weep but with the knowledge that Larry had attained the goal we all seek.
To all ParentsEdgar Guest”I’ll lend you for a while a child of mine,” He said.
“For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,
But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
You’ll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.”
“I cannot promise he will stay; since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked the wide world over in My search for teachers true
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love, not think the labor vain,
Nor hate Me when I come to call to take him back again?”
“I fancied that I heard them say, “Dear Lord, Thy will be done!
For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we run.
We’ll shelter him with tenderness, we’ll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we’ve known, forever grateful stay;
But should the angels call for him much sooner than we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand!”
Praying for the parents. I can’t imagine the vastness of their grief. I hope they have support and comfort around them. Our Lord watch over them and give them Hope that their beautiful girls are with You. Our Lady ease their pain and suffering with your most compassionate Heart.
Our Lady also had to put up with this suffering – this beautiful hymn to Our Mother Mary helps sum up the suffering……and the glory in whose presence these beuatiful children will now be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne0BholtZAI
Don:
I can’t look at those pictures without tearing up, for I lost five siblings in infancy to juvenile ALS, including two little sisters I remember holding in their last days. I will ask my “little advocates” to welcome those kids before the Throne of God, and to pray for their parents, too.