Papa

These weeks have been hard ones on the A&Z home front.  We’re walking through Z’s dad’s last bit of time here on earth amongst us. Here area few pictures of Papa:

If we even think about it, I think most of us hope our transition from our earthly bodies into our heavenly one will be fast, calm and peaceful. Papa has been endowed with a very strong physical body and so over these past 6 months despite doctors’ warnings that he wouldn’t make it much longer, Papa is holding on tenaciously. Through each step his family has been close never wanting him to walk this last time alone even if he might not even be aware of our presence.

I never had much of a chance to know Papa when he was still fully himself, but bits of what I do know inspires my heart with gratitude toward him. Papa was a very intelligent man, an explorer and a world traveler. He was generous to a fault, faithful despite challenges, and a lover of all things beautiful. Wherever I go in Italy where people know him they always inquire respectfully, “And how is the Engineer?”. His life’s work reached as far as Patagonia and the US, the latter where he met and became friends with my Grandpa. It is their friendship that planted the seed that would eventually sprout into the love that Zeno and I share. From the tidbits I can gather, it’s Papa who inspired Zeno with such a deep love and appreciation for God’s creation – the mountains, animals, flowers and bubbling streams… And it is Papa’s heritage that endowed Z with such a strong intellect and inquiring mind open to explore and discover this incredible world and life the Lord has given to us.

And so, Papa, though these last days of physical languishing are a trial, I thank you for all that you have given and I pray that your heart and spirit will be at rest in knowing the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and that you will enter into His rest by His mercy.