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st-francis-of-assisi-1235348As our large Irish Catholic family prepared for the final days of our Aunt Muriel Redmond’s life, we each took our turn saying good bye.

My mother had died 42 years before Aunt Muriel. Although I was 22 at the time, Aunt Muriel became my touchstone, my moral compass. When I was confused about marriage, or if I should accept a specific job offer or move to a new city or when I needed to hear someone loved me, no matter what, I called Aunt Muriel.

In August of 2015, all of her children and immediate family members, friends from her church, friends from the community where she had resided for 11 years, neighbors and many more had gathered to toast her 100th Birthday.

Aunt Muriel was a woman of wisdom, grace, patience, courage and compassion. In addition to listening and comforting her own children and grandchildren, she took time to be a “mom” to numerous nieces, nephews and others.  We may never know how many looked at my aunt as their “other mother.”

At her funeral, her son, Thomas closed the eulogy for his mother with the Prayer of St. Frances. As I listened to the words of this well-known prayer, I finally knew how blessed I had been to know the love of this amazing woman. She lived the words of this prayer, every day of her 100 years.

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Mary Redmond is a top-rated female professional speaker, author, consultant and business coach.  She is a negotiation and body language expert that instills confidence, inspiration and expert knowledge that sets up her audiences for success!