Where Have You Left Your Mark?
A couple of months ago, I received an early morning call from my sister to tell me that her forty-six-year-old husband had passed away the night before of a massive heart attack. Needless to say, I was very saddened by the loss. I was not shocked as I had a psychic revelation about ten days prior that someone in my immediate family was going to die. I just did not know for sure who it was.
My brother-in-law was an average guy who loved his family, friends, and church. He would never hesitate to help someone in need. He always did it with a smile on his face and heartfelt generosity. I often remember when we lived in the same town how he would come to my home and fix things, install door locks, work on my car, whatever . . . He was a kind and gentle soul who gave generously of his time and talents.
One of his greatest joys was working with the Knights of Columbus at his church. When we all lived in the same town in Alabama, he helped my father start a new K of C chapter at our local church. He took what he learned with my Dad and implemented it at a church he and my sister helped build. Not only was he instrumental in building the church, but he also started a K of C chapter that is now thriving and growing on its own.
Additionally, he had been selected by the Church to become a deacon and was two years into a four-year program when he passed. This program was one of his greatest joys and a real source of pride to him. And in the last year of his life, he had two special encounters where he actually got to see the Pope. In the first encounter, he was in Rome at the Vatican pushing one of the church members' wheel chair onto the stage where he actually got to shake hands with Pope Benedict. In the second, he was fortunate enough to receive tickets to see the Pope when he visited Washington, D.C. last spring.
Since my brother-in-law's passing, my sister has received innumerable condolence gestures. Some of the most surprising were from people in their congregation who were heartbroken by the passing of their “best friend.” My sister is constantly amazed by the far-reaching impact of my brother-in-law's kindness. Recently, one of the men in the K of C asked her to be the godmother for his new baby since he considered my brother-in-law to be one of his “best friends” and had planned to ask both of them to be the godparents. My sister was shocked but uplifted by this. She was thrilled to accept the honor of being the baby's godmother, but she was once again amazed by the impact my brother-in-law had had on this family just by being his kind, generous self.
While we were all in Virginia for the funeral, my brother-in-law's mother received a wonderful condolence. One of the members of the parish told her, “You certainly named your son the right name, Mark, because he left a mark everywhere he went.” When she told me this, I thought, “How appropriate.” Mark DID leave a mark everywhere he went, but he did it with subtlety and dignity – without drawing attention to himself or looking for recognition for his efforts. Yet so many people were impacted by them.
So I ask you, “Where have you left your mark?” Each day we should all strive to be kind, generous, and understanding to one another --- regardless of the situation or circumstances we find ourselves in. A smile, a kind word, or a random act of kindness goes a long way in making others feel good – as well as ourselves. So as you proceed through your day to day, leave YOUR mark and watch someone else smile; I'll bet it will make you smile, too.
I am here to read for you today and answer your questions. God bless!
Dixie