There is a saying "We can die a second time - the first time we die is when our body dies and the second time is after our death - when we are forgotten ".
Don't let your loved ones and friends die a second time. Keep their energy alive by writing down the memories and life lessons you have learned from them and share these thoughts with others. Please feel welcome to share your thoughts with others through this Blog.
...since I have posted to this Blog. A lot has happened since the sudden loss a close friend of ours, almost one year ago. As a result, the "Our Mothers Who Art In Heaven...and What They Continue to Teach Us" has been put on hold and we hope to launch it before Mother's Day 2008.
We are still getting submissions, inquiries, positive feedback and words of encouragement about the "Who Art In Heaven" series. To all of you, a very sincere "Thank You".
"Good people with common values always lead to good things." Gerry Murak -
Founder of the "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven Foundation" and creator of the "Who Art In Heaven" series and the life lessons book "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven and What They Continue to Teach Us".
My Father, who art in heaven, only had a 6th grade education. Yesterday, during a speech I gave to the incoming University at Buffalo - UB School of Management MBA students, I shared one of my Father's life lessons - "Leave things better than you find them".
My late Father always wished he had more education, now he is giving students more of an education, at the masters degree level. Thanks Dad.
My Father, who art in heaven, only had a sixth grade education. My Father wasn't book smart, but he certainly was street smart. Little did he know that someday his life lessons would inspire Masters Degree students at Medaille College - Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program - to reach for new levels and to "leave things better than they found them.
Thanks Dad.
A few weeks ago I referenced some thoughts from a corporate trainer. She shared a life lesson from her Grandfather, "Gramp" Haggerty. On Friday, she shared one of her Grandfather's favorite quotes,
"It's not about the quantity of time we spend, it is about the quality of time we spend."
Thank you again "Gramp" Haggerty. I have never met you, but you continue to influenced my life and now you will influence the life of others.
My Father, who art in heaven, would always stress the importance of believing in yourself.
When I had the opportunity to speak at the last National Speakers Association Convention, NSA, I gave a speech on "High Tech With High Touch" without using any technology! I simply shared my experiences with this and other Blogs that bring value when they come from the heart.
Life is much more than what we do - life is a lot more about what is in our heart. We need to spread the message that was in the hearts of our loved ones who have past - and then their energy will live on.
Sometimes we take for granted the influence our Fathers, who art in heaven, can have on others.
Today I reconnected with another speaker at the annual NSA Convention. We initially met when I was midst of launching the "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven" book last year. His first comment to me today was, "ever since we met I keep reflecting on the lessons I learned from my Father who passed away several years ago".
Little did I ever think that sharing a story about my Father would have a ripple effect in the hearts and minds of others. Thank you Dad for the life lessons you taught me and how it has helped me to learn about other Fathers, who art in heaven.
Tonight I got lost in the music of "Them JazzBeards" at the "Rockin at the Knox". They are one of my favorite jazz groups. Their music is a far cry from the music of a polish wedding. But, the intensity and passion of each musician in "Them JazzBeards" brings back memories.
When I was a kid, live music at a polish wedding with a great saxophone player was the standard. The musicians would wear fancy shoes and big ties just like "Them JazzBeards". They would play their hearts out and their faces would be raining in sweat.
My Father was a hard working man who made little time in his life for entertainment. But when it came to a polish wedding he would dance the night away. It would be great to see him dance one more night away...getting lost in the music.
"Why do I where two wedding bands?" This is a question I raised at a company wide meeting for a client that asked me to come back to work with them. The answer to the question led me to share my Father's life lesson during that same meeting, "Leave things better than you found them".
A few days later, the corporate trainer shared a life lesson from her Grandfather,
"There's a piece of gold in everyone and its your job to find it." Leon "Gramp" Haggerty
You never know how your words will touch someone. You will never know, unless you are willing to share your story. Thank you Dad. And, thank you "Gramp" Haggerty. I have never met you, but you have influenced my life.
It has been a while...but I am back. There are times in life when we get pulled through a wind tunnel. But, it is always encouraging to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
It is good to be back - thank you for your patience, continued support and words of encouragement. Remember the lesson my late Father taught me over and over again - "leave things better than you found them".
Last night at a business function, I learned that a friend's son got to know my Father, who died before his son was born...an impossibility? ...a visit from the other side? Neither. My friend shared an original copy of the sneak preview of "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven" with his son on Father's Day weekend. He wanted his son to learn the importance of one of my late Father's life lessons, "leave things better than you find them".
Dad, I never realized the importance of sharing your story and life lessons with strangers by writing your story in "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven". Your energy will live on in the hearts and minds of generations to come.
Thanks Dad for being my best teacher. Now you are teaching another generation...you never met.
So many of our memories and actions are holiday driven. When Mothers Day and Fathers Day are over, minds quickly switch to the 4th of July and summer vacation. What are your thoughts now that Mothers Day and Fathers Day and are gone?
We started "Kids Drawing Dad" last year as part of an Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven" book signing. The drawings for both years can be viewed by clicking on the drawings of Dad found in the left hand column of the "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven" Blog.
It is such a joy to see families participate in Kids Drawing Dad. We would like to thank everyone who created a drawing. We would also like to express our great appreciation to the University at Buffalo students from UB's Pi Sigma Epsilon who helped to scan the drawings (and patiently troubleshoot our scanner problems).
A special thank you also goes to the Walden Galleria Mall and the local Pyramid Management Group for hosting this year's 2nd Annual Father Day Celebration.
This year we donated $10 from each book sold to Buffalo Habitat for Humanity. Thank you to everyone who supported Buffalo Habitat for Humanity today.
Happy Fathers Day!
"The Faith of My Father" by Sharon Tabor Warren. Found in Chapter 5 - Compassion from the book "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven" by Gerry Murak.
"Thank You Dad" or "I Forgive You" or "I Love You"?
My Dad passed away suddenly in 1984. Going to the cemetery for Father's Day has never been my idea of remembering my Father, who art in heaven. That is why the "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven Foundation" was started. That is why I decided to share my Father's story and life lessons in my speeches. That is why I decided to write and share his story in "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven".
Everyone should have someplace meaningful to go on Father's Day and Mother's Day. After all, everyone has a Father and Mother, living or deceased - friend or foe. If they are deceased or a foe, they are still the origin of our own life. But if our Father or Mother is no longer alive where do we take our thoughts on Fathers Day or Mothers Day?
I have heard that the odds of being born with our DNA are 224,000,000,000,000 to 1!! All human beings who ever walked this planet, are all part of a very special club - the "224 Trillion to One Club".
With this unbelievable gift of life, we also have the wonderful gift of freedom to decide what we think. In all countries we may not be able to do what we want, but we can think about what we choose to think about. And regardless if our parents are or were friend or foe, we have the ability to learn from the time they shared with us, no matter how short or difficult a time that may have been. We have a choice to turn around our memories into positive thoughts and actions.
We can take those life lessons, good or bad, and use them as an opportunity to create a legacy for future generations. If every human being would take what they have learned in life and, as my Father taught me, "leave things better than we found them" - then we could build an even greater world for future generations.
My Father and I were not always the best of freinds but my Father's Day will never be the same.
Thanks Dad! I love you and I miss you. Happy Fathers Day!
"Peace for Pickles" by B. J. Taylor. Story found in Chapter 5 - Compassion in the book "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven" by Gerry Murak.
If your Father has passed, you can help their energy to live on in the hearts and minds of others by sharing their story and life lessons you learned with others this Fathers Day weekend. You are welcome to share their story on this Blog - "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven".
"Mess Sergeant Muzzy, U.S.M.C." - by Thomas Edward. Story found in Chapter 5 - "Compassion" in the book "Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven" by Gerry Murak.
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