If there is anything that I have learned so far in my short life, it is that, it is people who are important, not my goals, my desires or things. Sure, it is okay to have goals because I have them; it is okay to have desires, mine are many; and it is okay to have things, I go crazy when I think of owning an ipad, ipod, mac book or iphone. However,all these things do not replace the beauty that comes from being loved and giving love, from showing compassion to others, from reaching out and sharing in the many lives that touch me while on this journey.
Yesterday was my 61st birthday. That is correct, number 61 and there was joy in my heart because God has placed me in a family which is made up of people from around the world, from Arizona to Oklahoma, to Texas,to Michigan, to Alabama, to North Carolina, to Indiana, to Georgia, to Australia, to Germany, to Czech, to Afghanistan. When I look at the map of my life and see the trail behind me I see people. Lovely, beautiful people who have help me to become what I am today and who play a pivotal role in my being true to my faith and my beliefs.
And you are that people, that family. All of you have nurtured me and some of you very intensely. You have carried my dreams in your prayers, you have stormed heaven with intercession for me late in the midnight hours when I was facing tremendous storms, you have opened your hearts and homes and adopted me as one of yours, and you have encourage me to get out of the boat, step out and move forward.
In one of the Psalms it is written that God places the solitary in families. I am a firm believer that this is true because it has become truth in my life and my family keeps increasing.
Oh what a joy it is to have such family as you all and I want all of you to know that I love you and that each one of you has a place in my heart.
So, as I begin to move further along this road, upon this path which has shaped my life so far, I say thank you to all of you.
And as written in Numbers 6, I send you a Blessing:
May the LORD bless and keep each one of you,
May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
And may He turn His face toward each of you and give you peace.
You are simply the best family in the world and I love you.
Schalom,
Pat Garcia Schaack
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