LOVE AND PRECIOUS MEMORIES

A few years ago, when I was active in pastoral care ministry I had close ties with local mortuaries and the cemetery staff. During that time the cemetery was adding a cremains rose garden and had a contest to name it. My suggestion was “Precious Memories” Rose Garden. It was chosen. When it came time to dedicate the Garden I was asked to give the dedicatory message.

Preceding the service on a very cold blustery December night the director decided to have the luminaries lit first. It took about an hour to light them throughout the cemetery. Due to my asthma and the freezing cold, my wife, Sharon insisted that I remain in the car. By the time they finished everyone was chilled to the bone. The director had asked me to speak for fifteen minutes, but I knew that I better trim my message back. Sharon held a flashlight on my text as I read, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:16)

The theme of my dedicatory message was: coupled with God’s caring love for us at our death so the memories of the lives of our loved ones are also precious. I quickly picked key thoughts in my message and concluded in less than five minutes.

Recently, Sharon, was asked to participate in making little cigar box shrines for a “Day of the Dead” art show which she then donated for a fund raising auction to help meet the needs of children in Oaxaca, Mexico. As you may know Dia De Los Muertos is a Mexican celebration honoring their dead. In a sense it is a celebration of our Precious Memories of loved ones.
If you would like to know more about the poor families in Oaxaca, Mexico and their needs please visit the website: http://www.oaxacastreetchildrengrassroots.org/

You may wish to participate in the auction. To whet your appetite I am going to include photos of the four cigar box shrines Sharon created. Instead of candles all of them contain little battery powered lights.

The first one is titled: “Treasures in Heaven”

TREASURES IN HEAVEN

LIT TREASURES IN HEAVEN

In the lower portion of the shrine are things that disintegrate such as wood, bones and earthly things. Above is a crown of glory given by God and on top are angels rejoicing.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth….”

The second is titled: TUSCAN SHRINE.

Tuscan Shrine shows reflections of love, a celebration of outdoors. You can place photo of loved one on the stone step.
It is based on our Lord’s commands. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. “John 13:35
“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:8

The third is titled: LOVE IS THE KEY

LOVE IS THE KEY Has a mosaic edge around the top. It is a celebration of Christian Love as symbolized in the Agape Supper (communion)
The key and gate symbolize passage into love and dr awing closer to family and the Lord.
This shrine is based on the scripture:
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31.3)


The final one is: Bringing Hope and Light

The doves are a simple of hope and the candle represents Light. Blue symbolizes eternity.
It is based on a portion of Saint Francis of Assisi’s prayer: “Where there is despair let me sow hope; where there is darkness, light.”


There are many more shrines created by several creative artists in our area. If you would like to see additional shrines please visit:
http://www.corazon.typepad.com/

Beginning March 1 through March 31 there will be an on-line auction at a specially set up web site. It will not be up and running until March 1, 2009. I will be posting the link to it on my blog on March 1, 2009. I hope you will come back to my blog during the month of March and follow the link to that site. If you see items you like please bid on them between March 1 and 31, 2009. You may be a winner.

The following is a Valentine anniversary poem I wrote about my wife to celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary.

ENDURING LOVE

I saw her first in Sunday School,
A beauty to behold.
A smiling face with bright blue eyes,
And hair aglow like gold.

As I began to talk with her,
I felt we could relate.
It was a new experience,
I took her on a date.

Full moon reflected off the pool,
Her hair had a halo.
Did she like me? I could not tell,
Would take some time to know.

A poem she wrote about that date,
She too was wondering.
What did I think, how would I act,
Was I there for a fling?

I loved her by our second date,
So beautiful and smart.
This lovely lady, oh, so sweet,
Had smitten this man’s heart.

We had not hugged nor even kissed,
I knew she was the one.
I would pursue her heart and soul,
Until her LOVE I won.

They say beauty is just skin deep
The thought my heart doth scorn.
Her beauty is not just her skin
It is also inborn.

She took her time, she was not sure,
That I was the right guy.
The poems we shared and fun we had,
The knot helped me to tie.

She said, “Yes.” My heart overflowed,
For soon she would be mine.
The day we set to tie the knot,
Honored Saint Valentine.

The time flew by so rapidly,
Since we first had that date,
We’ve walked along a love strewn path,
The years are twenty-eight.

Valentine’s Day means much to us,
It was our wedding day.
We share our lives with many hugs,
Our LOVE is here to stay.
Don E. Cunningham ©1/29/09 272 words

May the precious memories of loved ones grace your lives in a very special place in your hearts.

Hugs, In Christ’s and My Love,

Don E. Cunningham
slyhog@cableone.net