Post by juliamgray on Apr 29, 2009 10:03:53 GMT -5
Mark,
We've met a couple of times but you don't know the impact you have on my life and the lives of my children. I live down the street from your sister, Kelly, and the last time I saw you was at Mark's confirmation party. My oldest son, Matt, thought you were larger than life, but he was a little sheepish about approaching you. You noticed this and went out of your way to put him at ease. He remembers you very clearly. Hardly a day has gone by since September of 2003 that you aren't remembered in bedtime & morning prayers.
Your life example is such a help to me in trying to impart wisdom to my children. Specifically, there is a lot to be learned from you: spending energy only on the things you can control, choosing friends carefully, the value of family, interdependence, persistence, the treasure of faith, being proactive, exercising personal leadership, openness to God's plan for your life, exploiting strengths and compensating for shortcomings...I could go on and on.
A few weeks ago I walked a half-marathon downtown in the pouring rain. As I was plodding on near the tenth mile, I started feeling sorry for myself...this hurts, I'm sopping wet, my feet feel like hamburger,...wa. And then I thought of you. Two things struck me instantly... 1) how thankless I am for the ability to walk, and that you spend a tremendous amount of energy preparing your body to do just that. 2) that when you walk again, you will never take for granted the wonderful pain that I deeply resented.
Thank you for being "that guy". I'm so very humbled.
Fondly,
Julia Gray
We've met a couple of times but you don't know the impact you have on my life and the lives of my children. I live down the street from your sister, Kelly, and the last time I saw you was at Mark's confirmation party. My oldest son, Matt, thought you were larger than life, but he was a little sheepish about approaching you. You noticed this and went out of your way to put him at ease. He remembers you very clearly. Hardly a day has gone by since September of 2003 that you aren't remembered in bedtime & morning prayers.
Your life example is such a help to me in trying to impart wisdom to my children. Specifically, there is a lot to be learned from you: spending energy only on the things you can control, choosing friends carefully, the value of family, interdependence, persistence, the treasure of faith, being proactive, exercising personal leadership, openness to God's plan for your life, exploiting strengths and compensating for shortcomings...I could go on and on.
A few weeks ago I walked a half-marathon downtown in the pouring rain. As I was plodding on near the tenth mile, I started feeling sorry for myself...this hurts, I'm sopping wet, my feet feel like hamburger,...wa. And then I thought of you. Two things struck me instantly... 1) how thankless I am for the ability to walk, and that you spend a tremendous amount of energy preparing your body to do just that. 2) that when you walk again, you will never take for granted the wonderful pain that I deeply resented.
Thank you for being "that guy". I'm so very humbled.
Fondly,
Julia Gray