July 6, 2011
God & Spiritual,My Writings,My Children,Christmas,Family,Grubby,
Talking to Grubby the other day, he mentioned to me how much he enjoys
the snow and immediately bittersweet memories from the past came into mind.
What I am about to share with you is a miracle story of love and peace
as well as a Christmas story. Why not? Haven't you heard of Christmas in July?
The Snow
Coming out from midnight mass from the small church that is across from my home
on that December 25, 2004 day, we were all greeted by a soft rain of sparkling
snowflakes tenderly falling over all of us. You can just imagine the excitement
on all the faithful parishioners that had been attending the house of the Lord
to receive the birth of our baby Jesus. For most of us, it was the first snow
that our eyes had ever seen. We all gathered and looked up to the sky in disbelief
and shouts of "It is Beautiful!" could be heard all around. No one seemed to
want to leave and missed such a wonderful gift from God.
Early the next morning, I woke up eager to see how it looked outside.
I ran as quickly as my legs allowed and opened my curtains to the front window
to look at the park across the street. What my eyes saw that morning was a
beautiful scene. It looked as though it came from a Thomas Kinkade painting.
A white layer of sparkling snow-covered all the land making it look like magic
as if Heaven had visited us and the land had been purified from any darkness.
I ran outside with my children, forgetting our coats and even outdoor shoes.
I was so amazed by so much white beauty. I had NEVER seen or touched snow
in my life and I couldn't contain my joy. Soon my dear brother Art came to visit
and together we enjoyed this wonderful snow that unfortunately only lasted us a
day. But I still remember my brother's smile and the excitement in his words and face
every time he would look outside as if to make sure the snow was still there.
Bad News
January 24, 2005, late in the afternoon, there is a knock on my front door.
Two very well-dressed men stood there bringing sad news :(
Art had tragically passed away earlier in the afternoon.
But how could that be, I had just talked to him about the weather earlier
and he had seemed OK. Why... why? :(
The days that followed were the hardest and saddest days in my life.
My dear brother Art was gone and I would never be able to hear his voice or
put my arms around him and see his beautiful smile ever again.
I became quiet and tended to be away from everyone. I wanted to be alone
to remember him, to cry, to get angry, and to ask why?
The Miracle
After many sleepless nights of crying for my dear Art, I finally got the feeling
of talking directly to him. Lying down on my bed and with my pillow completely
drowning in my tears I asked my dear brother...
"Art, I miss you so much, why did you have to go?
How can I ever smile again knowing how tragically you left us?
My dear brother, I ask that you try to find a way to let me know that you are OK,
that you finally found the peace you long for and that you are with our Lord.
Please, my dear brother, find a way to let me know this, anyway you can...
I love you...", and then I finally went to sleep after many days of not sleeping.
The Music
About an hour later, I am awakened by a soft music. It seemed to be coming from far away.
The melody was a sweet one and I could hear someone, a man, singing.
I couldn't make the words he was singing, but in his voice, I could feel peace.
I started searching around in the darkness of my bedroom, every corner, everywhere,
but I couldn't find where it was coming from. It seemed to be coming from every direction.
I ran and woke up my family and asked them to listen.....ss sssh hh....
listen to the beautiful music, but no one could hear it... just me.
Then I knew it, this was the sign, the message I had asked my brother to send me so
I would know he was in peace with our Lord and I could smile again <3
