Living in the moment is not easy. We all have so much to do and so many people need us. We have jobs, families, responsibilities and all sorts of commitments that keep us close to home and tied to our calendars.
Sometimes, those experiences we think we do not have time or energy for turn out to be the best experiences. My husband and I recently returned from a quickly organized trip to Monterrey, Mexico, glad we did not give into our practical sides and decline the invitation.
The purpose of the trip was a 50th wedding anniversary celebration for our friend's parents. We had a wonderful time, and more importantly were again reminded of the importance of family.
The festivities began with an evening liturgy, with the bride and groom leading the procession into the church with their seven children and their spouses --- an impressive and moving moment. Despite the language difference, we felt quite at home. The smiles on the faces of the guests and the laughter during the homily did not require that we understand every word.
The party following the Mass began with dances, both modern and traditional Mexican dances by the couple's granddaughters, and tributes read by some of the older grandchildren. We marveled at the dancing and were touched by the readings. I found myself wiping away tears and then noticed my husband a bit misty eyed. Our grasp of the Spanish language does not go far, but both of us were watching the grandparents and they were beaming from ear to ear. Whatever was being said was making them very happy!
Later in the evening the grandson translated for us and we knew our tears were not misplaced. The young man and his sister had lost their father at a very early age and their mother moved back home with her parents. The young man was thanking his grandfather for being the "dad" in his life when he was young, and they both thanked their grandmother for being an anchor in their lives and always encouraging them to be good.
Another granddaughter spoke and she was so filled with emotion she could hardly get through her speech. Her brother came up to offer his support. It was a very dear moment and it gave the young lady the bit of courage she needed to continue. Between laughter and tears, she too thanked the grandparents for all they had done and for the fine example they had shown the entire family.
At one point, my husband and I looked at each other and said that this is how we wanted to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, if we were fortunate enough to live that long. The combination of good friends, family and the repeated references to the wonderful family created by the celebrating couple was powerful. Indeed, the message of the evening was far beyond fun and celebration; it was about a strong and united family.
Many guests and relatives talked about the goodness of the anniversary couple. They were obviously generous, but the theme that rang through all the praise was that these people had a moral code they shared with their children and grandchildren, and expected them to live by. And it was just as clear that the family knew and respected their elders' wishes.
We ate delicious and interesting food, and experienced beautiful works of nature and art. But the most important thing we brought home from Mexico was the renewed awareness of the importance of family, and our responsibility to be its moral anchors. Anne Hansen is a parent education consultant and a parishioner at Blessed Junípero Serra Church, Camarillo. Her e-mail address is familymail@aol.com. |