Rosemead Kiwanis Club
"Serving the Community Since 1945"
FAX OF
LIFE
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Rosemead Kiwanis Club "Serving the Community Since 1945" |
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FAX OF LIFE
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The Fax of Life
A weekly inspiration, courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of Scott's Valley
(distributed free by the Kiwanis Club of Rosemead, CA - rosemeadkiwanis.org )
February 15, 2009 Volume 14, Number 19
Remembering AJ
The "Fax
of Life" is a Human and Spiritual Values project of the Kiwanis Club of
Scotts Valley. Among the reasons I'm honored to be in Kiwanis, and to be in
charge of this project, is that, in the popular vernacular, Kiwanis is "all
about" kids. In addition, one of the six permanent "objects" of Kiwanis is
to "give primacy to the human and spiritual, rather than to the material
values of life."
It is not often that I preempt the focus of this column for personal reasons, but this is one of those rare occasions. Today I want to say a few words about AJ.
I have to be honest. I know that AJ is short for a "real" name, but I don't remember that what name is. But is doesn't matter. No one knew this child of God by any other name than AJ.
I can't remember ever seeing AJ when he didn't have a smile on his face. He was full of energy, always moving at a hyper speed, almost as if he knew he had to experience life quickly because he wouldn't be around for as many years as we all would have liked.
It was less than a year ago we learned that AJ had leukemia. Being a nurse, primarily a pediatric nurse, I was comforted by knowing that childhood leukemia has an 85% cure rate and is one of the most treatable of all cancers. I choose to ignore the fact that an 85% cure rate means that 15% of the victims are not cured.
Sadly, AJ was in the 15% group, and early this morning he lost his battle with this ugly disease.
I woke up early this morning and my thoughts were focused on AJ. I found myself praying as hard as I have ever prayed before that Jesus would hold AJ in the palm of his hand and care for him. I also took comfort in asking his great-grandparents, my Mom and Dad, to care for him. I also asked Aunt Pri and Uncle Joe, two "newbies" in heaven who never knew AJ, but people who have a track record in mentoring young people, to look after him. Little did I know that this was the time when AJ was "peacefully" leaving us.
I take comfort in knowing that AJ is now without pain, and is running through the gardens in heaven, laughing as only a child can laugh.
If there is anything I can pass on to you, it is to remember the children in your life, and take a moment to give them a hug.
--- Peggie L.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. All of its Clubs are independently-run community service groups.
The Kiwanis Club of Scott's Valley normally meets at the Heavenly Café in Scott's Valley, CA, on Wednesdays at 7 am - see the Scott's Valley Kiwanis website @ http://svkiwanis.org for details; The Kiwanis Club of Rosemead normally meets on Thursdays at 12:10 in Rosemead, CA - see the Rosemead Kiwanis website @ http://rosemeadkiwanis.org for confirmation and directions. Visitors are welcome to join meetings of either club anytime.
There is no charge to anyone for receiving the "Fax," which today is circulated by e-mail rather than literally by FAX. If you have been encouraged in any way by the message, pass it on by saying something encouraging to someone else during the week. To subscribe to the free weekly RKC Reporter, of which the "Fax" is an attachment, simply email kcrosemead@aol.com,
Neither the Scott's Valley or Rosemead Kiwanis Clubs make any representations as to the accuracy of quotes or actions attributed to named individuals; material selected for the Fax of Life comes from a variety of sources and is chosen based solely on its presumed inspirational value to readers.