LOVING FATHER

A loving father was laid to rest yesterday and the love he gave spread like ripples in the water to
three generations through his sons John, Joseph, Robert, James, Stephen, Paul, Michael and Edward. This man received 7 Bronze Stars in WWII and was involved in 8 invasions and served in the middle east, and European campaigns. To my knowlege most of his children didn't even know of his medals until recently. He was full of humility and had strong character. He was a simple man with great family values of which his family was everthing. It was moving to see grown men crying with emotion for their dad as they were carrying him and eulogizing him.

The love he gave is rippled in the behavior of his sons with their families and the behavior of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

I was extremely impressed with the First Reading: "A Reading from the Book of Sirach"

"God sets a father in honor over his children; a
mother's authority he confirms over his sons.

Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and
preserves himself from them.

When he prays, he is heard; he stores up riches who
reveres his mother.

Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.

Whoever reveres his father will live a long life; he
who obeys his father brings confort to his mother.

My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.

Even if his mind fails, be considerate of him; revile
him not all the days of his life; kindness to a father
will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt
of your sins---a house raised in justice to you.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God"

I am a very strong believer that if a person obeys or honors the first two of the ten commandments chances are they will not have to think about the other eight commandments, because in the process of participating in these two commandments completely there is no possibility that a person would violate the other eight commandments.