Today as I think of my Benny, I think of you O Lord.  Because he is near you, yes where you have placed him, so near you.  You are both not here.  Yet you are.  Grief I feel, yes, but solace, for your Spirit is with me, in me, and near me. How can you be in and near me?  How can he?  These little points are not important, but what my head and heart feel are what is important.  In the lives of those who love you, who continue to love me, who live on in memories of loving us.  Yes Jesus, this is true for you and Benny.

As I pray the Rosary and do other prayers, you are with me.  Because your Spirit, who you said would come, is present in my day. Today as we passed Benny’s birthday, I thought of him with you.  Praying for us.  Knowing we are going through trials, sadness, loneliness without him – without you.  But happy because one day we will be together.  I will see you both one day, God the Father willing.  I try to live every day as one day closer to being with you both.

You know I worry about my family and friends.  They are far from you.  They give you no time or make up their own rules to satisfy their wants and desires.  You ask so much more, yet it is nothing compared to what you gave to us on the cross.  I pray to you for them, that they turn to you, seek you and realize how hard their hearts have. been.  Then, like me, they too can turn back to you.  And your mercy will pour forth.  Thank you for sending us Your Spirit, for pouring forth your love and mercy through the Spirit to me – us – the whole world.  Thank you for this pause to re-examine our motives and desires, and may they always rest in you.       John 16:5-11