In Memory of Vance Paris, 1958-2016
"A tree is
known by its fruit; a man by his deeds.
A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he
who plants kindness gathers love."
~ Saint Basil
This morning, I attended the funeral Mass for a
man in his late 50s, the husband of a friend of mine. It was a beautiful service -- a testament not
only to this man who was known for his kind and generous heart, but also to his
wife who stood by his side and cared for him for several years as he battled a
debilitating fatal illness. She, their
family and friends took extraordinary care of this wonderful man. Although he ultimately was confined to a
wheelchair, that did not stop their having fun or taking vacations. They went, they did, they enjoyed and they lived. Every second they could. They truly understood that each day was a
gift and so intentionally made the most of it.
This woman's love held up her husband and inspired everyone around
them. And when I saw rows of people in the church
come together and hold hands across the center aisle for one of the prayers, my heart
was overwhelmed by the love that their love inspired. As we exited the church, we were given
kindness coins to encourage us to perform random acts of kindness in memory of a very special man.
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