GENEROUS SPIRITS
I have to say, the kindness of certain human beings still takes me aback me at times, and there was one person in particular who do so with the receipt of our first donation. We don’t really know this person very well - Mike met him a few times at the school through his mom. He wrote a long, hand written letter and included a very generous money order to help with bills. It was surprising to hear from this person and I guess the blog was forwarded to him. It’s always the people you least expect that help the most. We read and re-read that letter, truly amazed that somebody would take the time, effort and then, ‘share of themselves’ in such a kind and generous way. It was refreshing and inspiring. Thank you, Jeremie and Kate!
We received a call from an old friend when my son set the blog url out, and he expressed great concern and made offers of help to Michael. We wondered how people might react to the blog so this call was very well received indeed. He sent a very nice gift in the mail. It was so good to hear from people you hadn’t been in touch with and see how kind- hearted human beings really are.
Then there was a family of three who pooled together their money and each one sent a check! It was totally unexpected and most appreciated. They too had discovered the blog through a forwarded email.
We received several BIG Y certificates which will be put to good
use.
use.
My sister sent a card that included a check of her hard earned money, toward the effort.
Mike’s colleagues and friends stunned us with a very generous
gift that they all participated in. Needless to say, Michael was very moved, and it was received with considerable emotion. It will certainly help a lot. What can we really say to thank so many people for their generous spirits? It is so heartening, and so appreciated. Words cannot really convey our gratitude.
I can't tell you how much it meant to get an envelope from four fine friends from Our Lady of Hope ! One lives in Oklahoma now and could easily have ignored this blog. This shows you the spirit of these fine people.
One sent a generous check, two sent grocery store gift-cards and one even sent a pet food gift-card which was incredibly thoughtful.
One replied with the words to our school song "Our Lady of Hope" when I thanked her: "The love that we share with one another, brings us together here as friends..." ( Only it was life that we wrote, not love.) The outpouring of love is so touching .
The most touching gift of all came from one of Mike's former students. I am guessing he might be around 30 years old now. The beautiful letter that he wrote really cannot be conveyed here. I wish I could print it, but it would be a violation of privacy. It is the most uplifting and moving thing that one person could possibly write to/about another !
It was composed of the most eloquent words that produced images that could reach far back into the recesses of your memory and actually recreate the feelings you felt years back, in the moment.
There is nothing at all like knowing you made some sort of an impact on another person - and that they remembered. This letter was a tribute and will always be cherished. It was accompanied by an extremely generous check - a sacrifice.
There really is no way to express how much this has meant to us. It's something we will never ever forget.
This week we received a very generous check from a family we have known for years. It was accompanied by a lovely and meaningful card. Thank you !
Yesterday, a parent of one of the students wrote a card saying that she had read the blog. I was surprised to think it got out to the " school population". I guess word gets around. She wrote a wonderful note and sent a check as well. It was so nice.
A coworker of Mike's called first ( thanks again!) and asked if he could drop off a CD that his talented daughter ( one of Mike's students ) created. It was an original composition and a tribute to Michael! The lyrics were very moving. Her talent was a gift that she has shared with her former teacher.
One of the most precious gifts Michael has gotten was sitting on my desk one Sunday morning when I went to teach C.C.D. class.
There was a beautifully wrapped box with an autumn bow with his name on it.
I brought it home, and when he opened it, Mike saw that it was a prayer shawl made by this C.C.D teacher's mother in law. She prayed as she made it. The eight students involved in this project were challenged to come to church and pray as well. In fact, the teacher pledged to donate $10 for each one of them who would do so. Michael had $80.00 cash in an envelope along with that shawl. The real kicker ?
This woman does not even know Michael!
I should have known when I started this page that it would be impossible to thank everyone, but I must say, we are TRULY overwhelmed at the generosity of the human spirit and so very grateful.
We have come to see all of these gifts or donations or prayers or cards or songs or special comments as the voice of God speaking through - you.
When you pray and cannot hear the AUDIBLE answer that you want, listen more carefully. I have heard it (AUDIBLY!) in many voices :
"Is there anything I can do for you ?"
"We will help you with your snow ."
"Is there anything that you need ?"
" I'm praying for all of you every day."
And SO much more. It is simply not possible to thank so many people , and it is very humbling. Please know that when you extend your hand, " These are Holy Hands".
So much time has passed and so many things have changed. For us, I'm sorry to say that none of them are very good, and Mike's condition has not improved. He *looks* perfectly fine, sitting down, but when he starts to walk, you notice the difficulty he has. It's all due to nerve damage and he is in constant (nerve) pain. We will be back at the doctor's office next week, but at this point, I am suspecting dropfoot. This loss of mobility and independence has been extraordinarily difficult for him. Small things brighten his days now and then.
It's hard to believe that teachers and students from St. Michael's Academy began sending out cards in September of 2014 and have consistently sent something all through the school year ... right up until now! Mr. Rancitelli knows that attached to every card - and he has hundreds of them- is a prayer.
It is very moving.
So, when he recently opened an envelope and read the front of this card :
it seemed more than a coincidence that one of the signers, Carmela, just so happened to be at our house at the time .They posed together and the message on the front turned out to be most appropriate ...she truly is a little angel!
THANK YOU ST. MICHAEL'S ACADEMY FOR YOUR AMAZING SUPPORT!
gift that they all participated in. Needless to say, Michael was very moved, and it was received with considerable emotion. It will certainly help a lot. What can we really say to thank so many people for their generous spirits? It is so heartening, and so appreciated. Words cannot really convey our gratitude.
I can't tell you how much it meant to get an envelope from four fine friends from Our Lady of Hope ! One lives in Oklahoma now and could easily have ignored this blog. This shows you the spirit of these fine people.
One sent a generous check, two sent grocery store gift-cards and one even sent a pet food gift-card which was incredibly thoughtful.
One replied with the words to our school song "Our Lady of Hope" when I thanked her: "The love that we share with one another, brings us together here as friends..." ( Only it was life that we wrote, not love.) The outpouring of love is so touching .
The most touching gift of all came from one of Mike's former students. I am guessing he might be around 30 years old now. The beautiful letter that he wrote really cannot be conveyed here. I wish I could print it, but it would be a violation of privacy. It is the most uplifting and moving thing that one person could possibly write to/about another !
It was composed of the most eloquent words that produced images that could reach far back into the recesses of your memory and actually recreate the feelings you felt years back, in the moment.
There is nothing at all like knowing you made some sort of an impact on another person - and that they remembered. This letter was a tribute and will always be cherished. It was accompanied by an extremely generous check - a sacrifice.
There really is no way to express how much this has meant to us. It's something we will never ever forget.
This week we received a very generous check from a family we have known for years. It was accompanied by a lovely and meaningful card. Thank you !
Yesterday, a parent of one of the students wrote a card saying that she had read the blog. I was surprised to think it got out to the " school population". I guess word gets around. She wrote a wonderful note and sent a check as well. It was so nice.
A coworker of Mike's called first ( thanks again!) and asked if he could drop off a CD that his talented daughter ( one of Mike's students ) created. It was an original composition and a tribute to Michael! The lyrics were very moving. Her talent was a gift that she has shared with her former teacher.
One of the most precious gifts Michael has gotten was sitting on my desk one Sunday morning when I went to teach C.C.D. class.
There was a beautifully wrapped box with an autumn bow with his name on it.
I brought it home, and when he opened it, Mike saw that it was a prayer shawl made by this C.C.D teacher's mother in law. She prayed as she made it. The eight students involved in this project were challenged to come to church and pray as well. In fact, the teacher pledged to donate $10 for each one of them who would do so. Michael had $80.00 cash in an envelope along with that shawl. The real kicker ?
This woman does not even know Michael!
I should have known when I started this page that it would be impossible to thank everyone, but I must say, we are TRULY overwhelmed at the generosity of the human spirit and so very grateful.
We have come to see all of these gifts or donations or prayers or cards or songs or special comments as the voice of God speaking through - you.
When you pray and cannot hear the AUDIBLE answer that you want, listen more carefully. I have heard it (AUDIBLY!) in many voices :
"Is there anything I can do for you ?"
"We will help you with your snow ."
"Is there anything that you need ?"
" I'm praying for all of you every day."
And SO much more. It is simply not possible to thank so many people , and it is very humbling. Please know that when you extend your hand, " These are Holy Hands".
===================================
So, here we are in June of 2015.
It's hard to believe that teachers and students from St. Michael's Academy began sending out cards in September of 2014 and have consistently sent something all through the school year ... right up until now! Mr. Rancitelli knows that attached to every card - and he has hundreds of them- is a prayer.
It is very moving.
So, when he recently opened an envelope and read the front of this card :
it seemed more than a coincidence that one of the signers, Carmela, just so happened to be at our house at the time .They posed together and the message on the front turned out to be most appropriate ...she truly is a little angel!
THANK YOU ST. MICHAEL'S ACADEMY FOR YOUR AMAZING SUPPORT!
We wish you all a wonderful summer.
Thank you one and all !
=================================
THANK YOU!
Donations may be made to: Laurel Rancitelli 99 Bowles Park Spfld. MA. 01104
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THANK YOU!
Donations may be made to: Laurel Rancitelli 99 Bowles Park Spfld. MA. 01104
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