Hope
Life is what happens to us while we’re busy making other plans.
By Timothy D. Naegele[1]
In the midst of my mother's darkest days, I recall a Catholic priest arriving at our home to administer "last rights." She recovered, and went on to lead a team of Red Cross volunteers during the Vietnam War, which helped service members and their families alike. She was named "Woman of the Year" by the local chapter for what she did.[2]
She had more genuine friends than anyone I have met; and all she could give was herself. She was a true inspiration. Both of my parents were. They gave me unconditional love, which sustained me through those darkest days. And they are my only heroes in life[3]
Receiving unconditional love from another human being or a cherished animal makes all the difference in one's life. It buoys the spirit, and reinforces the fact that God exists and is present in our lives.[4] Life is what happens to us while we're busy making other plans. And none of us will get out of this life alive. So we had best proceed with hope, and give it our very best.[5]
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© 2024, Timothy D. Naegele
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[1] Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass). See, e.g., Timothy D. Naegele Resume-21-8-6 and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/ He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at The Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service). Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/articles/ and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/articles/), and studied photography with Ansel Adams. He can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com
[2] See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2024/05/12/legacy/ ("Legacy")
[3] See supra n.2.
[4] See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/what-and-where-is-god/ ("What And Where Is God?")
[5] See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/why-die/ ("Why Die?") and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2024/12/15/tis-the-season-to-be-jolly/ ("‘Tis The Season To Be Jolly")