My wife and I attended a celebration of life event on
Saturday. Mind you, it wasn’t a
funeral. It was truly a celebration. A celebration of someone who was an absolutely
amazing woman!
Sara was only 48 years old and left behind a loving husband and two teenage boys. And although she passed on way too young… Sara lives on… in the lives of the hundreds of people who were there to share their memories and express their love and gratitude to a young woman who undeniably gave way more than she took.
I just sat there and watched and listened in amazement. Dozens of people stepped up to the podium to tell you how special Sara was. How much she meant to them. How much love and energy, time and text messages, she would send out every single day just to make sure her family and friends were okay. And I admit it, I was touched to the point of non-stop tears forcing my wife to have to hand me a Kleenex. But I wasn’t embarrassed, I just felt blessed to have been invited to such a special event.
I was invited by Sara’s Father, Bob, one of the best friends I have in this world. And I am truly thankful for his 20 years of friendship and all the great times we had practicing and playing baseball together. But when Bob got up to speak about his daughter, I saw a special side of Bob that I had never seen before, and I could instantly see where Sara got her strength, character, and faith from.
Bob was composed and articulate, funny and yet super sincere, on what was likely one of the hardest days of his life. But what really got me was when Bob spoke to the audience about how grateful he was for all the prayers people sent out for Sara and her family. Bob wanted all of us to know, in no uncertain terms, that those prayers worked… and that they are still working! That may seem confusing since Sara is no longer here on earth. But Bob explained that people’s prayers gave Sara and her family strength at a time when they needed it most and those prayers… well, they’re working still!
I am positive that Bob’s love for his daughter and passionate words of gratitude touched the hearts of everyone in that room. But I also believe that I witnessed something very special that day. I felt like I wasn’t just seeing and listening to Bob… it was as if father and daughter were there together, communicating as one.
Sometimes the answer to our prayers is to become the answer to everyone else’s prayers.
~ Robert Brault
