Amber Gates

Member for: 5 years 6 months 10 days
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***"Grief is just love with no place to go."***

Believe like Mary  
Trust like Joseph  
Hope like Shepherds 
Seek like Wise Men 
Worship like Angels
 Love like Jesus

"They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies. " -William Penn

The brain may take advice, but not the heart, and love, having no geography, knows no boundaries." —Truman Capote

"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love."—Washington Irving

Hello and thank you for all the beautiful flowers and tokens left for my loved ones. They truly mean the world to me and my family. I am Catholic, and proud Mom to one beloved son Jacob and a Mom to two beloved dogs, Aodolf ("Odie") and Beowulf ("Bey").

A little about me:

I was very happily married to my beloved husband, Charles "David" Gates for 24 amazing years. My sweet husband lost his battle with colon cancer on Christmas Eve 2022. I love this site because it's an opportunity to honor our beloved family and friends. What a wonderful way to remember them until we are reunited with them once again. Thank you for visiting my profile and may God bless you and your family.

Some quotes that I hope will help all those who have lost loved ones. The world isn't always kind to grieving hearts but this site truly has some wonderful, kind and amazing people that have shown me nothing but peace , light and love. I hope these quotes may help you in your grief journey.

"We must accept what God has sent us. In that acceptance we find patience. And if we can be patient long enough, we are persevering. The constant giving of oneself to God's will, persevering through pain and suffering, is itself an act of hope, isn't it? Patient perseverance—what a beautiful definition of hope. No matter your condition, be hopeful each day, each moment, and remember that God perseveres in His love for you." -Mother Angelica

"Our parting will not be for long; we shall see each other again in Heaven; we shall be united with our Savior; there we shall praise Him with heart and soul, sing of His mercies forever, and enjoy eternal happiness. When He takes away what He once lent us, His purpose is to store our treasure elsewhere more safely and bestow on us those very blessings that we ourselves would most choose to have."
~ St. Aloysius Gonzaga to his mother shortly before he died

For for those who grieve, thank God for the compassion your experience has given you.

"Limitless and without consolation would have been our sorrow for close ones who are dying, if the Lord had not given us eternal life. Our life would be pointless if it ended with death. What benefit would there then be from virtue and good deed? Then they would be correct who say: 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!' But man was created for immortality, and by His resurrection Christ opened the gates of the Heavenly Kingdom, of eternal blessedness for those who have believed in Him and have lived righteously. Our earthly life is a preparation for the future life, and this preparation ends with our death. 'It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment' (Heb 9:27). Then a man leaves all his earthly cares; the body disintegrates, in order to rise anew at the General Resurrection. Often this spiritual vision begins in the dying even before death, and while still seeing those around them and even speaking with them, they see what others do not see."—Saint John the Wonderworker.

"…is not he a fool who seeks after happiness in this world, where he will remain only a few days and exposes himself to the risk of being unhappy in the next, where we must live fore eternity? We do not fix our affections on borrowed goods, because we know that they must soon be returned to the owner. All the goods of this earth are lent to us…"
— St. Alphonsus di Ligouri

"Good God,
may we confess Your Name to the end.
May we emerge unmarked
and glorious from the traps
and darkness of this world.
As You have bound us together
by charity and peace
and as together
we have persevered under persecution,
so may we also rejoice together
in Your heavenly kingdom."
Amen

St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200-258)

"Our Lord does not come down from heaven every day to lie in a golden ciborium. He comes to find another heaven which is infinitely dearer to him—the heaven of our souls, created in his image, the living temples of the adorable Trinity." — Saint Therese of Lisieux

"Time is Too slow for those who Wait, / Too swift for those who Fear, / Too long for those who Grieve, / Too short for those who Rejoice, / But for those who Love, / Time is not." — Henry Van Dyke

"If we were required to die twice, we could jettison one death. But man dies once only, and upon this death depends his eternity. Where the tree falls, there it shall lie. If, at the hour of death, someone is living in bad habit, the poor soul will fall on the side of hell. If, on the other hand, he is in the state of grace, it will take the road for heaven. Oh, happy road!" — Saint John Vianney

"The Lord, although He was God, became man.  He suffered for the sake of those who suffer,  He was bound for those in bonds, condemned for the guilty,  buried for those who lie in the grave  but He rose from the dead and cried aloud:  "Who will contend with Me? Let him confront Me. "  I have freed the condemned, brought the dead back to life,  raised men from their graves. Who has anything to say against Me?  I, he said, Am the Christ, I have destroyed death,  triumphed over the enemy, trampled hell underfoot,  bound the strong one and taken men up to the heights of Heaven.  I Am the Christ. Come, then, all you nations of men, receive forgiveness for the sins that defile you.  I Am your Forgiveness.  I Am the Passover which brings salvation.  I Am the Lamb Who was immolated for you.  I Am your Ransom, your Life, your Resurrection, your Light, I am your Salvation and your King.  I will bring you to the heights of Heaven.  With My own Right Hand I will raise you up  and I will show you the Eternal Father."

St Melito of Sardis

"I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God."
-St. Dominic Salvo

"Tribulation is a gift from God - one that he especially gives His special friends."-St. Thomas More

"Love is the most necessary of all virtues. Love in the person who preaches the word of God is like fire in a musket. If a person were to throw a bullet with his hands, he would hardly make a dent in anything; but if the person takes the same bullet and ignites some gunpowder behind it, it can kill. It is much the same with the word of God. If it is spoken by someone who is filled with the fire of charity- the fire of love of God and neighbor- it will work wonders."-St. Anthony Mary Claret

"The creator of the heavens obeys a carpenter; the God of eternal glory listens to a poor virgin. Has anyone ever witnessed anything comparable to this? Let the philosopher no longer disdain from listening to the common laborer; the wise, to the simple; the educated, to the illiterate; a child of a prince, to a peasant."-St. Anthony of Padua

Be at peace.
Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life; Rather look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things.
And when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; The same everlasting Father who cares for you today Will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering Or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, And put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

St. Francis de Sales

You can't go to Heaven hating somebody. Forgive now. Be compassionate now. Be patient now. Be grateful now. Love Jesus and Mary now. Accept God's will now. -Mother Angelica

Each and every one of us, at the end of the journey of life, will come face to face with either one or the other of two faces… And one of them, either the merciful face of Christ or the miserable face of Satan, will say, "Mine, mine." May we be Christ's!  -Archbishop Fulton Sheen

A word, a kindly smile, will often suffice to gladden a wounded and sorrowful heart.
If heavenly grace and true charity come in, there shall be no envy or narrowness of heart, nor shall self-love keep its hold. For divine charity overcomes all, and dilates all the powers of the soul.

-From Story of a Soul (Saint Therese)

"O Death, where is your sting?
O Hell, where is your victory?
Christ is Risen and you are overthrown.
Christ is Risen and the demons are fallen.
Christ is Risen and the Angels rejoice.
Christ is Risen and Life reigns.
Christ is Risen and not one dead remains in the grave.
For Christ, being Risen from the dead,
is become the First Fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages."-St John Chrysostom

"Why must we suffer? Because here below pure Love cannot exist without suffering. O Jesus, Jesus, I no longer feel my cross when I think of yours."
- St. Bernadette

"What a comfort it is, the way of love! You may stumble on it, or fail to correspond with grace given, but always love knows how to make the best of everything. Whatever offends our Lord is burnt up in its fire, and nothing is left but a humble, absorbing peace in the heart."

~St. Therese of Lisieux

"Live so as not to fear death. For those who live well in the world, death is not frightening but sweet and precious." – St. Rose of Viterbo

"It is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God. Death is no phantom, no horrible specter, as presented in pictures. In the catechism it is stated that death is the separation of soul and body, that is all! Well, I am not afraid of a separation which will unite me to the good God forever."
St Therese

"The accidents of life separate us from our dearest friends, but let us not despair. God is like a looking glass in which souls see each other. The more we are united to Him by love, the nearer we are to those who belong to Him."
-Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

"One day when we are able to see the full midday light, we will know what value and what treasures our earthly sufferings have been that have made us gain our everlasting Homeland."– Padre Pio

"When you look into muddy or choppy water,
you will not see your face reflected.
If you want the face of Christ, who looks
on you, to be reflected within you, come away
from the disturbance of exterior things,
and let your soul be at peace."
– St. Anthony of Padua

"Pain and suffering have come into your life, but remember pain, sorrow, suffering are but the kiss of Jesus — a sign that you have come so close to Him that He can kiss you."
St. Teresa of Calcutta

"Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?"

Rose Kennedy

"As we seek Him, He is there to be found. As we cry out in supplication, He is there to listen. As we reach up to touch the hem of His garment, … He seems to stand still and take our hand in His."
-Mother Angelica

"The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus means that one day everything sad will come untrue." -JR Tolkien

"The heart that does not become disheartened, knows whatever happens is the perfect Will of God." Mother Mary Angelica

"In every disappointment, great or small. Let your heart fly directly to your dear Savior, throwing yourself in those arms for refuge against every pain and sorrow. Jesus will never leave you or forsake you."

-Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Seek by reading and you will find by meditating. Knock by praying, and it will be opened to you in contemplation" - St John of the Cross

"So many people imagine that death cruelly separates us from our loved ones. Even pious people are led to believe this great and sad mistake. Death is not a separation. When our loved one dies, they do not leave us. They remain. They do not go to some distant place. They simply begin their eternity. Death has not destroyed them, nor carried them away. Rather it has given them life and the power to know and love us more fully than ever before. The tears that dampen our eyes in times of mourning are tears of homesickness, tears of longing for our loved ones. But it is we who are far from home, not they. Death has been for them a doorway to an eternal home. And only because this home is invisible to our worldly eyes, we cannot see them so near us, lovingly and tenderly waiting for the day when we, too, will enter the doorway. And then we will see them."
-Cardinal John Henry Newman

The Weaver

"My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.

Oft' times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.

Not 'til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver's skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him."
-Grant Colfax Tullar

The Prayer of Jesus (The Unity Prayer):
My adorable Jesus,
May our feet journey together.
May our hands gather in unity.
May our hearts beat in unison.
May our souls be in harmony.
May our thoughts be as one.
May our ears listen to the silence together.
May our glances profoundly penetrate each other.
May our lips pray together to gain mercy from the Eternal Father.

Prayer for Times of Grieving:
Lord Jesus Christ, You suffered the loss of Your beloved foster father, St. Joseph; you wept at the death of Your friend Lazarus; and from Your Cross You beheld the grief of Your Mother, Mary. Look upon me in my grief, and touch my wounded heart. Welcome all my deceased loved ones into Your kingdom, and help me to surrender them to Your merciful love. Grant me peace in the midst of distress, courage in the midst of loss, and hope in the midst of sorrow. Fill me with the strength I need just to make it through another day. Help me to remember that You will never abandon me, that You will never forget me, and that You will see me through this time of suffering and trial. I offer You my tears, and I give You my
wounded heart; receive them gently. Amen

Prayer for the Brokenhearted
Merciful Lord of Life, lift up my heart to you in my suffering and ask for your comforting help. I know that you would withhold the thorns of this life if I could attain eternal life without them. So I throw myself on your mercy, resigning myself to this suffering. Grant me the grace to bear it and to offer it in union with your sufferings. No matter what suffering may come my way let me always trust in you.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families… Psalm 68:5-6 Lord, you know our hearts. Heal my family. Give me wisdom and comfort. Give us grace to walk with You through this

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Lord, I'm stunned. This can't be real. Be my strength and my help. You are my refuge.

"Before you were in your mother's womb, I knew you." Jeremiah 1:5

Lord, you know me. My heart is crushed. I can hardly breathe. I need you.

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. Psalm 31:9 Father, sorrow grips my heart. Be my comfort. Be my strength.

Your grief honors your loved one. Your heart is expressing your love. God created you to love. You're expressing the heart He gave you. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24 Father, grief is confusing. The feelings are intense. Strengthen me and give me hope.

The world isn't friendly to grieving hearts. Yes, it can be cold and unfeeling. The Lord knows grief well. He knows you. He loves you and is walking with you in this mess. You are special to Him. I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 Lord, I feel broken. My heart is shattered. Speak to me. My help comes from you.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 Lord, I don't know how to think about this. You are with me. You never leave. Guard my heart from fear.

But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. Psalm 10:14 Father, you know my heart and my emotions. You see my trouble. Help me to trust you.

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Ephesians 4:26 Lord, when I'm angry, guide me to express it in healthy ways. Use this anger to heal and mature me.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. Psalm 42:1 Lord, remind me that now is not forever. Though I feel stuck, I trust that You are at work.

I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:1-2 Lord, I feel like a mess. You are with me in this. Calm my heart. I trust you are guiding me through this.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7 Lord, you know my fears. You are my hiding place. You protect me in ways I'm not aware of.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. Psalm 62:5 Father, bring peace to my mind. Cause me to rest in you. You are my peace.

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Father, I miss my spouse so much. Even though the loss hurts, thank you for love. Thank you for placing them in my life.

"Ye speak of honour, but I speak of labours and toil; for this is no time for rewards, but rather for slaughter, battles, and perils." - St. Chrysostom

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.

~ St. Anthony of Padua

"Attribute to God every good that you have received. If you take credit for something that does not belong to you, you will be guilty of theft."

~ St. Anthony of Padua.

"The eucharist is a fire which inflames us, that, like lions breathing fire, we may retire from the altar being made terrible to the Devil" -St Chrysostom