Go Tell It On The Mountain

Jon and Jerry helping Paul as the trail starts to get steeper.
(This picture is out of sequence - it should have been the 4th picture.)




Jerry and Marie leading the way as they start the climb up Stone Mt.





Anne, Jon, Paul and Jerry walking together as it gets steeper.












Taking a rest mid way up the trail.






Joh, Paul, Anne and Marie on the top of Stone Mountain - great job!


















"Now Thank We All Our God" sums up this past week!
On Thanksgiving Day, as I sat between Paul and Marie at Mass, I felt such joy. There are no words to describe it. As I sat there, I remembered quite clearly the state of shock I was in last Thanksgiving morning, sitting in Mass, wondering if Paul would come out of his coma and what kind of condition he would be in. Our family was numb that whole day as we went through the motions of having Thanksgiving dinner and then going to see Paul. Now, here we were, a year later, celebrating Thanksgiving Day Mass and Paul was 'present and accounted for'. I told God that there was no word or action that I could say or do that would be able to show my thanks to Him. Our Almighty God has done wonderous things for us! All praise and glory are His!

"Proclaim the greatness of His name,
Loudly sing His praises,
with music on the harp and all stringed instruments;
sing out with joy as you proclaim:
The works of God are all of them good."

I started to write a Thanksgiving Day message and it became quite long because there are so many people and so many instances and so many gifts which occurred in this past year. Our family has received so much this past year and if every prayer, thought, gift, sign of love, action and effort were all stacked up, it would be a beautiful mountain displaying the Glory of God!

Everyone of you became part of Paul's climb up his 'mountain of recovery'. Everything that was done for him helped support him as he climbed up to new levels. When I looked at the pictures of Jon and Jerry on either side of him, it occurred to me that it was how it might look if it were really Jesus and Paul's guardian angel holding him up when he needed it most. Anne and Marie represented our Blessed Mother, the saints and angels, and all of us, walking alongside with love and encouragement. It is a great reminder to all of us that we are not alone in our life. We are never alone in our struggles. While it may feel like it at times, the support from heaven above is always with us. That is God's promise to us, that he will never abandon us, most especially in times of trial. He just wants us to call out to Him and He will send a legion of angels to our side. His help will be in the form of people on earth and the 'unseen' help from heaven. I have learned this lesson well this past year. I have been able to be less of a 'doubting Thomas' as I used to be. Paul is not the only one climbing a mountain. We all have summits to reach in our search to do God's will, but God has provided an incredible and visible year for us, in which we have grown in faith, hope and love. Yes, He has provided very visible signs for us to see that He is with all of us. This last year has become a beautiful sign to our world, of love in action.

May God's love lift you to new heights today. Keep looking up!

Go tell it on the Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere.
Go tell it on the Mountain,
That Jesus Christ is Lord.

Our loving thanks to all of you. For every big and little thing that you did for our family. God knows you all by name!

Love,
Jon and Rebecca