My Imitation Of Christ by Thomas Kempis
This is a little book that was always near my Mom's bed or in her desk. She had a elastic holding it closed. It was one of the things I took of my Mom's last week from cleaning out her house. It was also little enough that I could fit it in my purse to take home with me.
I never read it, nor do I know what the book is about. All I know is that it was always within reach of my Mom. I would assume the book is about how to be more like Christ.
I opened the book this morning. The old elastic broke as I removed it. I opened the little book to find memorial cards inside. Not just any memorial cards, but Tyler from 2009, my Uncle Don from 1999, Dad's from 1979, my Memere from 1978, and even my Pepere from 1975. All the people that she loved so dearly in her family were in the book. I cried knowing that is why the elastic was holding it all together. I took the elastic, and placed it in the book. Then I thought....what better place for Mom's memorial card to be than to be inside the book with all her loved ones...my loved ones.
I found a page on Chapter 10 that says: "It Is Sweet to Serve God". I figured that Mom was always serving God and wanted so much to be a missionary she once said. I just read the page that I picked and found this verse; "O service worthy to be embraced and always wished for, which leads to the supreme good and procures a joy that will never end!" That definitely is my Mom. She was always helping others and doing good. She led by example and taught us to always be kind and caring towards others. To live by the "Golden Rule". I think this was the perfect spot to put her memorial card. I will cherish this little book forever.
Last week was very tough. I went back to Massachusetts to visit and to be there when we buried my Mom's ashes. Fr. Mike Racine came to Sacred Heart Cemetery to say prayers over the grave site. He had the chalice and plate that Mom wanted to give as memorial to the missionaries. We saw her name engraved on the bottom and I think Molly even took a picture. He told us that we were invited to Mass the next day (Thanksgiving Day) when he blesses it.
Maureen, David, Austin and I went to the Mass at St. Bernard's Church in Assonet. Father blessed the chalice and plate during the Mass and said a few beautiful words about Mom. After Mass was over, we walked over to thank him and he smiled and said to me, "you are the spitting image of your Mother". I laughed thinking in the back of my head, I'm a redhead and Mom was a brunette. But then I realized that he just gave me the biggest compliment ever. What a beautiful image to think that I am just like my Mom. During her wake, I would say about six people had said the same thing that I look just like my Mother. I know that there can never be a greater compliment.