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I
will let him tell you who he is
by copying a letter which he wrote
to our youngest son just a year
before his passing. Our son was on a
religious retreat at school and the parents
were each asked to write a "palanca"
for their son. This is Bassim's palanca
to our son Adam.
I realize it was never intended for public
display and I apologize to Bassim but
it seemed more meaningful in expressing
who he was and is then for me to recount
mere biographical information.
It is used with the permission of Adam
and hopefully Bassim.
To my dear son Adam,
15
October 1998
It
is with great pleasure and wonderment that I write this letter.
I write it because it speaks the words I feel from within, which
often go unsaid. I just want to thank our Lord Jesus
Christ for
entrusting you to me as your father, and for the joy and
contentment the Lord has brought into my life through you.
Please always remember the feeling I've described and
continue building on it with your love and good deeds.
I'm not the only receiver of this joy and love you bring
with
you into this life. Many others, including Mom, Jeremy,
Teta
and Jiddo, Bubby & Pop Pop, your aunts & uncles,
your
teachers, Pastor Munz, and friends, have experienced this
joy and love because of the kindness and gentleness you
exude so naturally.
I can remember the day you were born and what a welcome
addition to our family you were. I saw it in your eyes and
in your temperament. I remember you as an infant
growing up, you knew what you wanted and you had no
trouble making decisions. You were fearless and social
from
a young age. You were quiet but your eyes and ears were
wide open absorbing everything in sight. And as I can see
today, you have proven how intelligent you are and what a
well balanced person you are. You are a work of Art, and
God only makes Masterpieces. I'm very proud of you and all
you stand for.
To get to this point in life and to be so successful in the game
of life, one must strive and seek God's rewards by obeying
the Lord, working hard, and by making sacrifices.
I've
decided that my Palanca for you will be a pledge to always
love you and care for you in every special way as you mature.
I pledge to always love your mother and care for her till the
day the Lord calls me Home. I also pledge to
continually
pray for you during your successes as well as during the times
you will struggle in the game of life. I do want you to
always
remember that I will always be your father to call on and lean
on whenever you need me. I want to continue to share my
life with you in a special way so we are always together
even when we are separated by many miles.
Please continue to be the person you are, a God fearing,
love expressing, kind and gentle individual. Just remember
that the wolves of sin and treachery will always be at your
gate and you must be ready to take them on and defeat
them.
Call on the Lord in all you do and ask Him to help you and
always
praise Him. One of my favorite songs of praise goes like
this:
Be
bold, Be strong, for the Lord your God is with You.
I am not afraid, I am not dismayed,
Because I'm walking in faith and victory,
Come on and walk in faith and victory,
For the Lord, your God, is with you.
Remember these words and rejoice with them. Well, dear,
I want to close this letter by emphasizing how much I
respect you and that I'm very proud of you and appreciate
you the way you are. I want our relationship to continue
to grow
and remain strong, based on love and respect for each other.
I pray to our Lord Jesus Christ that He always blesses you
and keeps you, that His face always shines on you,
and He gives you peace throughout your life. I also
pray He keeps me in good health so I may enjoy seeing
you and your future blossom and yield fruit.
Your loving father
Through the Years....
  
 
 
Moon
and Back Graphics
Music: The Leaving of Liverpool
Sequenced by Barry Taylor
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Lissa
Explains it All
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