Boyertown Area Residents Share ...

A Reflection on My Summer       

by Lisa Hogan

I have heard it said that time is our most precious resource. We often think that we have plenty of it, but what happens when we are confronted with the possibility that our time is limited? How do we react to that? How do we prioritize what is most precious to us? How does this realization change our reality?

These are the questions that I have been contemplating for some time but that have become especially relevant this summer. My father, a retired Philly firefighter, was diagnosed with a rare disease three years ago. It is very likely that this disease was acquired from years of exposures to toxins while on the job. He loved the work and the service to his community and has told us that he has no regrets. He would do it all again, even knowing it would result in sickness and personal suffering. My dad has been a good father to his children and a doting grandfather to his grandchildren. He has deep friendships that have lasted most of his lifetime and loving relationships with his remaining siblings, nieces, and nephews. All in all, he has led a life well lived, rooted in family, faith, and service.

After years of invasive treatments, in July, he was confronted with the reality that his time on earth was likely winding down. For me, this was jarring but not wholly unexpected. For him, it was an opportunity. When confronted with the end of life, we learn to prioritize that which is most precious to us; after all, time is our most precious resource. My dad decided to use his time completing bucket list items, like visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in Manhattan and spending time with family.

This summer hasn’t been as sad as one would expect. As a family, we took a super fun trip to Disney World because my dad wanted to watch his grandchildren enjoy the parks. We have spent time at our shore house and have had skee ball competitions on the boardwalk. There have been some beautiful days punctuated by bright skies and amazing summer sunsets. There have been some difficult days spent in hospitals, where he endured the poking and prodding of continued tests and checkups. Through it all, we have remained grateful for the time that Dad has been Blessed with and for the connection that, as a family, we have built over our lifetimes.

This summer has been about legacy. Over his lifetime, my father has built a legacy of love, connection, service, and faith. He has passed that legacy to his children and grandchildren through how he chose to live every day of his life. He modeled for us a life well lived. This summer has been the exclamation point to all the lessons he taught us, the memories he made with us, and the legacy he leaves us with. Be good to each other, put your faith in God, build connections with the people you love, and remember that family comes first in all earthly things. As the song by Brantly Gilberts says, “That’s one hell of an amen.”

More News from Boyertown

• Craig Bennett Muses on Luck of the Irish While we oft attribute circumstances as "lucky" or "unlucky," another perspective opens realms of possibilities, freedom, and often hope.
• For Your Use: Irish Blessings In response to our "Call to Writers," Sandra Williams offers Irish blessings for our use on St. Patrick's Day.