final words today as I lay my father to rest....

final words today as I lay my father to rest....

by Dev-Sheila Sookram on Monday, November 21, 2011 at 5:45am

Family, Friends, Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Thank you all for for your support and condolences.

Before we go our separate ways and get busy with the business of life and where to go from here, I would like to say a few words…. I regret that I was unable to share my gift of vocal music today for many reasons, but being my father’s daughter, I still felt the urge to speak and share with you what is on my heart. To bring to you a message, and as Don shared with me recently, when the Holy Spirit is speaking, we have no other choice but to yield and listen with an open heart and soul.

Over the last few days I have found great comfort in all of the shared stories and memories. My earthly father had so many talents and gifts and I am so thankful for all of the lives he touched as he pursued with great vigor his God given passions and strengths. He was also very passionate about encouraging others to discover and develop their individual talents and gifts as well. I am also very grateful to him for that. And like any tragedy, I believe God uses it for the good to teach, strengthen and continues to mold us even in times of great sorrow.

Some of the greatest lessons I can learn from my father’s life now is that everyone has strengths but they also have weaknesses. And that is ok, it makes us human… it forces us to look up to the heavens for guidance. Showing each other our authentic selves, our emotions and vulnerability does not make us weak but instead strengthens our relationships drawing us closer to each other and to God.

2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us… " For my grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness.".

I also learned (and am still learning) that you cannot be all things to all people. It is important to serve but also to allow others to serve and help you in times of great need as well. To forgive, but to also accept forgiveness from others as well. Life is a journey and our core human needs for fulfillment in life can be sent and received very differently from person to person based on our own unique personalities. I am very proud of the level of respect and admiration that my father was able to receive through his interactions with others and through his continued service to the Lord.

Because music is one of my gifts and also a great way to share a message… I have some lyrics from a compilation of songs to share that I pray will bring comfort and wisdom at a time like this. There is a very universal message of love, service to one another, and peace in these various songs that transcends any one theology or religion. I believe this is what unites us all, lutheran, catholic or otherwise .... from bible verses to ballads sharing our raw authentic lives in both strong and weak moments tells a powerful story… I hope you enjoy.

His Eye is on the sparrow ..

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.



Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.



How You live- Turn up the Music

Wake up to the sunlight With your windows open

Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken

Wear your red dress Use your good dishes

Make a big mess and make lots of wishes

Have what you want But want what you have

And don't spend your life lookin' back



So go to the ballgames And go to the ballet

And go see your folks more than just on the holidays

Kiss all your children Dance with your wife

Tell your husband you love him every night

Don't run from the truth 'Cause you can't get away

Just face it and you'll be okay

Turn up the music Turn it up loud

Take a few chances Let it all out

You won't regret it Lookin' back from where you have been

'Cause it's not who you knew And it's not what you did

It's how you live

wherever you are and wherever you've been

Now is the time to begin



So give to the needy And pray for the grieving

Even when you don't think that you can

'Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you

So think of your fellow man

Make peace with God and make peace with yourself

'Cause in the end there's nobody else

it's not who you knew And it's not what you did

It's how you live



Do It Anyway-

You can spend your whole life buildin' Something from nothin

One storm can come and blow it all away

Build it anyway

You can chase a dream That seems so out of reach

And you know it might not ever come your way

Dream it anyway

Sometimes the world seem crazy And it's hard to believe

That tomorrow will be better than today

Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all YOUR heart For all the right reasons

And in a moment they can choose to walk away

love em anyway

God is great but sometimes life aint good

And when I pray It doesn't always turn out like I think it should

But I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singin' A song that you believe in

That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang

Sing it anyway

I sing I dream I love and I do it anyway



This next exerpt is from a song called "Nature Boy"

And then one day one magic day he passed my way

And while we spoke of many things, fools and kings

This he said to me

"The greatest thing

You'll ever learn

Is just to love

And be loved

In return"

With any good message, there is always a moral or lesson to be learned. Wiether it is through a song or the scriptures…

For those of you who have seen the Movie Grace Card, you know the simple message of extending Grace can heal all wounds. The promise to pray for each other everyday and ask each others forgivenenss, grant the same to each other in return and hold relationships with each other in the highest regard… always. " For my grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness.".

I know my father knows there is still work to be done, we must stand united for there is also a real battle ever at hand, there is always forgiveness, grace covers all and we must guard our hearts and minds so that our greatest strengths do not become areas of great weakness. So go out and love like you’ve never loved before, don’t be disappointed if others do not love you back the way to expect to be loved, pursue your passions and talents, and just do it anyway.

Seek in His time

Seek Ye First
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOx24whKeb4&feature=related

In His Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo-rGzx2OZk&feature=player_embedded

Comes Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkoRvNdhc64

Crazy Love

http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos.html   I forgot how much I enjoyed this book til I ran into his videos again... great read... highly recommend it.  Sheila

The letter

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out
>
> of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to
> > > be all right? When can I see him?
>
> > > The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't
> > > make it.'
>
> Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any
> > > more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'
>
> > > The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One
> > > of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to
> > > the university.'
>
> Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to her
> > > son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair.
> > > 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes.
> > > The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and
> > > handed it to Sally.
>
> The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the
> > > University for study. He said it might help somebody else. I said no at
> > > first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it
> > > will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.' She
> > > went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone
> > > else. Always wanting to help others if he could.'
>
> Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after
> > > spending most of the last six months there.. She put the bag with
> > > Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car..
>
> > > The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty
> > > house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the
> > > lock of his hair to her son's room.
>
> > > She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in
> > > his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lay down across his
> > > bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.
>
> > > It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed
> > > was a folded letter. The letter said:
> > >
> > > 'Dear Mom,
> > > I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget
> > you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love
> > > You'. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day.. Someday we
> > > will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little
> > > boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room
> > > and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead,
> > > she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to
> > > buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.
> > >
> > > Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma
> > > and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but
> > > it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I
> > > love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any
> > > of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself
> > > took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and
> > > talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that
> > > I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything.
> > > But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God
> > > handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter
> > > I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this
> > > letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the
> > > questions you asked Him, 'where was He when I needed him?' God said He
> > > was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross.
> > > He was right there, as He always is with all His children.
> > >
> > > Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you.
> > > To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool?
> > > I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more
> > > names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus
> > > for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.
> > >
> > > Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore & the cancer is
> > > all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God
> > > couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The
> > > Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery!
> > > How about that?
> > >
> > > Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.
> > >
> > > 'When you're down to nothing, God is up to something.'

FLY LOVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF7k7O6Zz7Uhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF7k7O6Zz7U

Nature boy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpt3Gyauj3g&feature=fvsr
Could the lyrics be describing the boy Jesus in this song?    Golden Rule maybe?