Today was the 43rd birthday of the son of one of the couples from the “While We’re Waiting” retreat last May. I had written the birthdays and passing days of all the deceased kids on my calendar, and saw that Cullen's was today. I texted the mom, the same woman that W3 and I had a nice lunch with a couple months ago, to tell her I was thinking about her today and had stopped to pray for their peace. She was thankful and mentioned that it seems people refrain from saying the names of our kids in heaven because they think it will make us sad. We both agree that nothing could be further from the truth. We want nothing more than to hear our child's name said!
I had used one of her guest posts before here.
https://icantimagine.substack.com/p/have-you-not-heard-do-you-not-know
But this was one she wrote three years ago, and I think they may have continued that tradition. I think it’s really cool!
Cullen’s Fortieth Birthday
Posted bysusans1m0n October 23, 2020
Tomorrow, October 24th, marks Cullen’s fortieth birthday. Our second-born son, was a trained chef, having graduated from Johnson and Wales in 2002 with a culinary arts degree. Each year on his birthday, we honor his memory in some way. In years past, I have prepared recipes that were either too time consuming or that seemed far removed from my “usual” culinary comfort zone. This year, I asked my Bible study to pray with us about what we could do to remember Cullen.
God is SO CREATIVE! We plan to go to dinner this evening and give our chef and our server a generous “tip”/gift enclosed in a card. I am almost giddy with excitement to see how God is going to use this in their lives because He promises that His word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent. I know Cullen would be so proud.
Here is the message in the card…I tried to take a picture and post it, but it was just too difficult to read, so here is our message.
The outside of the card is a quote by Oscar Wilde, “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” Inside the card reads, “What a difference you make.” Our message follows.
Tomorrow, October 24th, would have been our second-born son’s fortieth birthday. His name was Cullen and he was a 2002 graduate of Johnson and Wales in culinary arts. Cooking was his passion and he served as head chef both at La Fourchette in Charleston, SC and at The Stone Terrace, St. John, USVI. His addiction took his life seven and a half years ago.
We chose to honor his memory this year with a token of our appreciation to the chef and our server this evening. The breaking of bread, the partaking of food, and the interaction of people seated around a dinner table are such integral parts of our lives. Memories are made there. When memories are all you have left of the one you love, they become especially dear to our hearts.
We prayed that the Lord would place the very people He wanted to receive these gifts in their respective roles (chef and server) this evening. Thank you for allowing us to remember our son in this way; I know he would have been proud.
Keep making a difference!
John 6:35 “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.‘”
https://knoworis.com/2020/10/23/cullens-fortieth-birthday/
What a beautiful post!
How beautiful, how caring, what a lovely and touching tribute. God bless these dear parents.