What Ashes Say

Thank you for your amazing story regarding Ash Wednesday. Your details had me on the edge of my seat as I prayed your ending would turn out as wonderful as it did. Praise God for sending Chris to be yours and Will's angel that day.

Heart warming story that ended happily thank goodness. Thank you for sharing it with all especially today, a special day for me as well. Ash wednesday always represented my religion, or a part of it if you will. I always remember from the time I was a young child that ash wednesday represented the beginning of lent...oh my, well we had big decisions to make-- what to give up..That was hard to do..Seems we all would rather of not given up anything. I always gave up the same thing because it was the hardest for me to not do. Well I hate to admit it but it was biting my nails. I'd bite them to the quick practically and it was rather embarassing when I got older and someone noticed them awful looking hands. And I happen to be enthralled with hands. It's the first thing I notice about someone. Wouldn't you know, mine were awful looking. So I'd trudge through lent trying so hard not to bite them and instead picking at the cuticles. Today I don't do that. I grew out of it at 28 years old. My obstetrician made a comment that it was too bad that I had such a lovely diamond to look at, if one could get beyond the fingernails...OH! heartbreaking. So I finally stopped. Anyway, I think ash wednesday is a time to reflect on how short our moments here on earth can be and how lucky we are to be able to have a time to reflect on Christ and all that this time frame means in regard to our Savior and our relationship to HIM. Good luck everyone in keeping your promise...

Thank you for sharing your personal story, and the very "human" way in which you told it...moments like yours bring home so clearly and simply how fragile and temporary human life on Earth is-I remember a somewhat similar event in my life--a bad car accident and my own "Good Samaritan" who was there to help me-in dim recollection, I remember someone else being beside me (my guardian angel?), and then my very human Good Samaritan who helped me -- but 2 distinctly different presences...and during Lent, as well--I write this with Ashes on my forehead...and I pray we continue to keep our Catholic traditions and pass them along to our children.

Wow, what a memorable story. Thanks for sharing it & the 'miracle' of God working through another 'guardian angel/Chris.' I went for my ashes yesterday. I was told, "You are healed, go forth and sin no more." I have been praying for a miraculous healing because I was told I'll require 4 surgeries & I have no insurance. I stopped & said, "I thought that you'd say something like: From Ashes you came and to ashes you shall return. A chuckle came with the reply, "We'll save that one for your burial, which won't be today." Consequently I am reporting it today. I haven't rescheduled with my Doctors yet, for their opinion on my conditions yet I believe I am healed.

Thanks so much for your sharing your experience strength and HOPE(= Helping Other People Everyday!) I learned that in a twelve step program, You are God's Chosen! God is Alive! HIS Miracles never Cease to amaze me! I have been cured of many things in my lifetime, and he works his miracles through us! Thank You Jesus!-Oh, Come Holy One! Bring us this wonderous Eastertime that we may rejoice in you and Your Love! Love to all Jeannette D. Chesapeake City, MD

Therese:

I cannot possibly imagine a more traumatic experience -- unless, of course, it had ended horrifically instead of heroically. (Or if, and I know you're not a selfish person, David had been the pushee instead of the pusher -- I say that knowing what terror you went through just this weekend with your daughter.)

I don't think, as I'm sure you don't either, it was "luck" that a lifeguard unexpectedly was right there -- and that's speaking as a sometime skeptic.

But in my own life, when I read the story, frightening though it was for you and especially for poor Will, I read it from your son's point of view.

You see, I've had a recurring dream for well over three decades of being at the Kansas City Zoo in preschool or kindergarten (that's where I lived back then), having a picnic, getting into a fight with a young classmate, and pushing him down -- where he hit his head on a huge, sharp boulder, badly injuring or even killing him.

I've been assured by my parents countless times that this never happened. Yet the dream occurs at least half-a-dozen times a year, and has since I was a youngster. It is always the same, and always incredibly vivid. It ends with adults closing in around me until the "screen" fades to black -- a combination, I gather, of their simultaneously punishing me and sheltering me from the awfulness of what I have done. It's as if I was there -- which makes me strongly believe, despite my parents' statements to the contrary, that I was.

Maybe it is simply G-d's reminder to me to hold in my male temper (my "terrible twos" extended until about five -- even more evidence of my own suspicions). Maybe.

But it sure seems like more.

I know Chris - even though we haven't seen each other in ten years - I can tell you he never once thought of himself when he jumped into that water - strength, honor, integrity and love for his family and friends has always been what I know Chris to be.