Today is the First Day

Last updated on: November 2, 2021 at 7:48 pm by Sherry Antonetti

Today is the First Day 2021-11-02T19:48:19-04:00 Sherry Antonetti

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It’s hard to know what to call this person I know who died today. He’s my dad’s friend, but I’ve known him since I was around the age of four or five. He hunted and fished with my dad and my brothers. He owned dogs. He married into our family (cousins), and was family in the way that cousins are when kids know there are adult cousins. We don’t do the family tree, we just say, “He’s a cousin,” and that’s it. He was one of those adults who played with kids and actually enjoyed our company.

I know today, my dad rejoices to see him. I can see the smiles as they pass around cold beers and talk about great moments at La Belle, or on the boat. S.J. loved it all, and visits with him were punctuated by my dad and him and others laughing so hard, one wanted to be in on the joke even if you couldn’t be because you weren’t old enough. To be recalled as heralding laughter, good food, a warm fire and either fishing or hunting ducks is a good legacy for most Texans, for that one.

I don’t have long stories about my dad’s friend. I just have a long memory of him always being there –being one of “Dad’s friends,” and that meant a lot to Dad, and thus a lot to me. My brothers have the memories of trying coffee and having frozen feet in the marshes as they waited for duck or geese to fly over. What I know, is if you are going to pick a feast to enter into Heaven on, it’s hard to beat “All Souls Day.”

All Souls are remembered. All souls are celebrated. My mom and sister and her children are praying over the grave sites of cousins and uncles and my dad, remembering each of them fresh. For me, every year we watch our wedding tape, it becomes more of a witness to the Feast of All Souls. The eternal wedding feast reveals itself more with each year. The party we held is nothing compared to what is.

We will miss S.J. but only for the time until we get to be part of the celebration.

In the days to come, there will be stories and gumbo and memories but today, let’s pray for S.J, and for his family here that will miss him, even as he gets to wonder at meeting Jesus face to face.

Previous Post

October 29, 2021

Over at the Register Today

Next Post

November 5, 2021 Everything is Available Now, Nothing is Available Later

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Answered Prayers Blessed Mother Confirmation Devotion of the Sacred Heart Doctors of the Church Easter Family Humor family life Good Friday Growing up Healing Holy Spirit taps Lent Love in the little things Mary Undoer of Knots Not an Apologist Parenting Sacred Heart of Jesus Saint Therese of Lisieux Sin Small Success Saturday Teaching others and myself Uncategorized Waiting Writing Year of Saint Joseph

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz