The Gift of Others - Mary Beth

Dear Mary Beth,

I thank you today for the gift of
You,
for 21 years of growth together as a couple
for the realization that our love
has been guided by God.

Thank you for loving me when
I have been challenging and difficult,
for giving of yourself
for my personal and professional benefit.
Thank you for loving me - body, mind and spirit,
for offering me your artistic genius
for enabling your gifts and talents to
infuse my creative core.

Thank you for the gift of your mom and dad
for Katie and Meg
and the entire Seefelt and Foydel clans
who have enriched my life immeasurably
both as individuals and as a collective whole.

Thank you for the gift of two beautiful boys
who are such a critical reason why
I am alive
who give such meaning to my life
who help me fully realize
who I am as a human being.
Thank you for your kindness and your grace,
for your smiles and laughter
for your tears and honesty.

I sincerely appreciate
the gift of having known you,
the realization that each moment
of each day brings
new enlightenment which
completes me and
remakes me.

God bless you today and always, Mary Beth
I love you!

Rick

The Gift of Others - Nick

Dear Nick,

Thank you for the gift of your smile
present from your first moment
on earth

Thank you for the gift of your imagination
your role-playing ability
the way you move in and
out of empathy

Thank you for your hugs and kisses
for your affection
and warmth

Thank you for your ongoing gratitude
for the way you
appreciate mom and me

Thank you for your sense of justice
for your desire to right
wrongs

Thank you for "men are men" wrestling
for spinning and tickling

You are a great blessing and I love you

Papi

The Gift of Zachary

Dear Zachary,

You have gifted me with your enthusiasm
your energy and your curiosity
Your passion and hunger
for knowledge.

You lead me into places in nature
you guided me to Upland Hills School

You inspire me with your music-making
and guitar wizardry

Your word-smithing and language skills
grow each day

Your command of Spanish was
evident from early-on

Your speed is strong and powerful
bolts of lightning

You command the soccer ball
and weave it, then drive it to the net

You are sensitive and loving
You pay attention to people who need help

I am so blessed to know you and be your dad

You teach me things about my self
that were there all along
but I could never see
until you elicited them in me
from me
and gave them
to me

God bless you today and always
I love you with all my heart and soul

Papi

Appearance part 2

Dear Lord,
Help me to have faith
to teach faith
to breathe faith
Help me to maintain peace in the face of hostility
Help me to breathe deeply
Help my breath and peace to radiate out
and wash over all those around me
Help me to deliver peace, hope, love
Balance
You
to all
today.

Amen

The Appearance on the Road to Emmaus

Dear Lord,

May I recognize you on the road
In the most unlikely of places
May I know you as the
Risen God,
The Savior
who is always there
loving, guiding, protecting me
Always.

Amen

The appearance to Mary

Dear Lord,

May I see you as you are, everywhere.
May I recognize your omnipresence
May I seek you out when it seems you aren't there
May I call you "Rabbuni" as Mary did
May I know that you are with me
May I see you in all things and in all people
May I know and love you today and always.

Amen

Dear Lord,

Help me to empathize with those who see our shared world differently
Help me to see our shared humanity
Help me to love all people, especially those with whom I differ in ways large and small
Help me to grow to a deeper awareness of peace through the practice of unity through diversity in all its forms: thought, word, deed, and appearance.

Amen

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

Dear Lord Jesus,

May I believe without seeing so that I may be open to your appearances to me.
May I see you in all people.
May I see you in the wonders of your creation.
May I see you in my pain as well as my joy.
May I know you are always there.
Bless my faith, Lord, keep my faith, hope, and love strong and unyielding.
Give me the blessings of an eternal relationship with you.

Amen