I have been thinking a lot lately about the many things that I have learned from my Dad. I have not written in a few weeks, mainly due to the fact that in the midst of our busy days, especially as finals season nears, it is hard to sit down and actually think. I have found that at weekly mass, I seem to think about my Dad for the entire hour and fifteen minutes. This week at mass I could not stop thinking about how my Dad was a servant. He served everyone around him. He served my mom, standing by her through times when maybe it wasn't easy. He served my siblings and I on a hourly basis. He served our family as a whole through every cleaning day, errand, and even small daily favors he did to make our lives easier. He served neighbors, helping them shovel snow without being asked. He served even those who would work for us. I can vividly remember in the hot Texas summer, our roof was being redone, and he throughout the days that these men were there, made sure that they had plenty of Gatorade, water, and snacks that they needed to ensure their safety. It amazes me that as much as one person was struggling so deeply inside and was so tortured, he continued to have one of the most serving hearts I have ever come to witness. I feel this only proves the immense selflessness that my Dad possessed in his life. I continue to struggle with not wanting to live without my Dad and on the contrary, wanting to live in his honor and to live for him. Some days I feel so hopeless and lost without his guidance and his voice, and others like right now, I remember his serving heart. On these days, he inspires me to serve others, to be a good friend, a good daughter, a good sibling, and a good humanitarian. I do not claim my father to be perfect, because trust me, on days when he woke me up at 6am to clean, I maybe would not have been so happy with him. Among the numerous lessons that my Dad continues to teach me on a daily basis, one of the most prominent continues to be to serve others. He teaches myself and everyone that knew him that no matter what inner battle you have, or how hard your day may be, it is important to serve God by serving others. 

"Believers do not carry their faith, faith is their wings. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.” 
― Ibrahim Emile

Make a difference in tomorrow,

Gina Marie