One Dove

My Great Aunt Martha and Great Uncle Fred would sit on their front porch, in their white rocking chairs, and would look out on the world around them! Aunt Martha would always point out the Dove's, LOVE BIRDS!  Always in twos!  Just as they were!  You never saw one without the other!  On Sunday June 12, 2011 Aunt Martha met our maker and is in peace!  At the graveside, on June 15th, the preacher was praying... O.K. so I'll admit it!?!  I don't close my eyes when I pray!  I'll explain why a little later :)  I was looking around, mostly just looking at my Granny, when I saw some birds to my left.  I bumped my cousin and said look over there!  On a Gravestone about three rows over there was a Dove, ONE Dove!  Watching us!  I believe the preacher then made a comment about God putting his arms around Martha, or something to that effect, and like Magic the gentle touch of God and Martha came under the tent in a peaceful breeze!  It really was an "AH" moment... ;)  The dove flew off alone and  I found peace in knowing that Aunt Martha is with God. 

For Your Journey Home

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

 French publication La Clochette in 1912.

Seigneur, faites de moi un instrument de votre paix.

Là où il y a de la haine, que je mette l'amour.

Là où il y a l'offense, que je mette le pardon.

Là où il y a la discorde, que je mette l'union.

Là où il y a l'erreur, que je mette la vérité.

Là où il y a le doute, que je mette la foi.

Là où il y a le désespoir, que je mette l'espérance.

Là où il y a les ténèbres, que je mette votre lumière.

Là où il y a la tristesse, que je mette la joie.

Ô Maître, que je ne cherche pas tant à être consolé qu'à consoler,

à être compris qu'à comprendre,

à être aimé qu'à aimer,

car c'est en donnant qu'on reçoit,

c'est en s'oubliant qu'on trouve, c'est en pardonnant qu'on est pardonné,

c'est en mourant qu'on ressuscite à l'éternelle vie.