Where are you Going?

Quo Vadis? (Where are you going?*)

Naturally, we were shocked and crushed when our otherwise healthy 23-year-old son, Gerard, died suddenly from a cardiac-related event in December 2023.

Every passing is sad, of course. Gerard was just coming into his own as a young man, finding his place in the world following a challenging childhood of learning differences and resulting behavioral issues. As his parents, we were faced with the questions:

Where do we go from here? How do we move forward in a way that honors Gerard and our own lives in the time we have left on Earth?

We came up with some guideposts to help us navigate the road ahead; perhaps they can be helpful to others who have lost loved ones. Here are some we wish to share:

Jesus’ promise:

We were reminded of the word of faith in Jesus Christ, who promised Gerard eternal life at his baptism and who will keep His promise. And through the prayers of so many, the Holy Spirit did provide the strength, consolation and peace that only Christ can give. We want others to know that peace is available to them.

“He’s good”:

When we get sad about missing Gerard and lamenting life’s opportunities, joys, challenges and experiences he will not have, we are brought back to our belief that Gerard will be in glory in Heaven. So while we miss Gerard and the times we will not have with him, we realize that is a selfish, but normal feeling. He’s OK. He’s good.

We will be together again:

We believe that those in God’s grace will see each other after we pass, and we will experience our loved ones again, which brings us some peace. So while we’re in no hurry to get there, we have that to look forward to.

*As Peter was fleeing Rome to escape persecution, he encountered Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus responded, “I go to Rome to be crucified again,” and Peter returned to the city to face his martyrdom. The question is relevant to the reflection of God’s will and purpose for our lives, including through the challenges.

John and Carol Kennedy are parishioners of St. Leo Church in Stamford, CT. Their story, as told in Carol Kennedy’s book, “Thank God for God!: A Memoir of Faith, Hope and Healing,” is available on Amazon.