Pray for us, Dad.

Dad,
Pray for Mom.
She is about to go into surgery tomorrow for her knee replacement.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

 

Happy Father's Day, Dad.
May the Lord bless you and keep you;

May the Lord let His Face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May the Lord in His mercy bless your soul and grant you eternal Peace.



Missing you, Dad, this Memorial Day 2016

Memorial Day 053016

 

We gather at your grave this morning to pray.
Mom and all of your children, except for Huyen,

who is doing a mission in Vietnam, made it.

Anh Hung P and his family ran a little late,

so we started the rosary prior to their arrival.

 

We said the rosary together.
Chi Vy asked me to read a passage from my book.

I read the first passage, and it was about

your arrival back to our house in Saigon in March 1975.

I concluded, "It was our happiest day in Vietnam."

 

I also read a second passage.
It was the passage describing the time you were wounded.

Then I asked everyone to say a prayer for you, Dad.

The short meeting at your grave was simple,

but your memory lives on.

 

May the Lord bless you and keep you;

May the Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

May the Lord look kindly upon you and grant you peace.

And in such peace, Dad, pray for us.
That God would bless us with happiness and peace in this life and next.
Amen.



Thinking of you, Dad.

Hi Dad,

Today you would have turned 84.  Hope you could send us a hello from the other side.  How are you?  Have you risen high up enough to see God's face everyday?  Or does God have a face?  Maybe just a Light, not too bright, not too hot, just shining and glorious?  I take it you now don't have a body or a face either, just a free and comfortable spirit, I imagine.  You most likely don't have any worry, or stress, or pain.  Can you look down on us?  Can you ask God to bless us extra good?

We had a warm and fuzzy Thanksgiving, as you could see.  Mom seemed to be in good cheers.  All our family gathered and had so much fun.  All grandchildren from afar came home, except An.  But that was okay because she was striving to be our future "Le family doctor" (to take care of us all later, no pressure, of course!!).  We missed her though.  And we missed you, dad.  But we didn't feel so sad any more, not like last year. 

When I think about your current state of being, I actually feel happy for you.  My memories of you have always been a handsome, healthy, happy, loving man.  But the other day, Ha posted some pictures of you in your last hour with us.  Seeing those pictures got me thinking about our mortality.  Everyone will die, sooner or later.  What will our death be like?  Will we be as blessed as you, with all the sacraments received to cleanse your soul, with all your family gathered around, with so much love and prayers to send you off?

On the other hand, for many years growing up, I have always thought Cancer is a foreigner, from a distant land.  Cancer only happens to other people, not to our family.  We don't speak it's language and we won't even go there.  But after both you and Cau Nam died of cancer, I got to rethink this C word.  If immediate relations got hit, how safe am I?  It's no longer a foreigner.  It's here and ready to attack any day.  It's worse than Isis!!!   

However, I cannot live in fear.  I just have to be vigilant.  Maybe I can start to combat it from here, from now with preventive measures.  Right dad?  I am trying to eat more healthy, to rest more and stress less.  I am trying to be more spiritual, and to find joy in everyday living, working, praying.  I am grateful for everyone and everything around me, most of the time, or... maybe more than half the time!  Okay, alright, at least I am working at it! 

Dad, you have lived a life full of grace and died a graceful death.  Please ask God to help us be like you in time of health and time of sickness.  But for now, more immediately, ask God to delay the sickness part as long as He can.  Thank you, Dad.

Happy Birthday Dad!  I love you.

 

Huyen