As long as I can remember, on Christmas Eve everyone put on their Sunday Best, went to Grandma\u2019s church, and then returned home to wait for Santa Claus. At least that was what Christmas Eve seemed to be for everyone else, but as a daughter of Mary, our Christmas Eve was a little bit different. We put on the Sunday Best and went to Grandma\u2019s church, but when we returned home, we all sat together as my grandfather read the second chapter of Luke, the story of the birth of Jesus. Christmas time in my mother\u2019s house was always centered on the gift of Christ. In our home, it was Mary who enjoyed this time of year most: the decorating, the planning, the cooking, the gift giving and the celebration of Christ\u2019s birth. The Christmas traditions\u2014the evergreen wreath representing continuous life and victory over suffering; the Advent candles which represent joy, hope, peace and love\u2014qualities that Mary exemplified throughout her life- help us to remember Christ and today, those traditions help us remember and celebrate Mary\u2019s life.<\/p>\n
Mary lived her life with hope and joy. Life is a journey, not a destination, and that is how Mary lived her life. While there were detours on the journey, Mary\u2019s focus was always the journey and the opportunity to serve those she met along the way. When talking to people about her health, that is how she described it\u2014a journey. She never let illness define her.\u00a0 She refused to allow disease to limit the reach of her heart.<\/p>\n
The love that Mary shared throughout her journey, with her family, friends, co-workers, patients, those at the Clifton Sanctuary ministries, probably everyone here, defines Mary\u2019s life. Like the Christ candle we will light on Christmas Eve, Mary\u2019s legacy is one of light and love.\u00a0 Many of you wrote or have told us in person that, like the Magi, we have a bright star in the sky shining down on us. She has gone ahead of us, but as Jesus said, \u201cLet not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father\u2019s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.\u201d<\/p>\n
We know where Mary has gone and that she will be waiting for us there. Her legacy to us is one of love, hope, peace and joy. We will honor her best by following her path of service and love.<\/p>\n
I would like to leave you with this poem\u00a0by Mary Elizabeth Frye :<\/p>\n
Do not stand at my grave and weep. As long as I can remember, on Christmas Eve everyone put on their Sunday Best, went to Grandma\u2019s church, and then returned home to wait for Santa Claus. At least that was what Christmas...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[10,16],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thurmond.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thurmond.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thurmond.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thurmond.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thurmond.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thurmond.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65,"href":"https:\/\/thurmond.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64\/revisions\/65"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thurmond.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=64"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thurmond.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=64"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thurmond.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nI am not there. I do not sleep.
\nI am a thousand winds that blow.
\nI am the diamond glints on snow.
\nI am the sunlight on ripened grain.
\nI am the gentle autumn rain.
\nWhen you awaken in the morning\u2019s hush
\nI am the swift uplifting rush
\nOf quiet birds in circled flight.
\nI am the soft stars that shine at night.
\nDo not stand at my grave and cry;
\nI am not there. I did not die.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"