Family, Friends and Neighbors,
Four weeks have passed since the groundbreaking ceremony,
and we are officially seeing signs of progress at our new home on Krocks Road
in Allentown. Walking around the property yesterday afternoon, I was so excited
to see the hard work of my entire family coming together at the location of our
new home. I feel so blessed to have so many loving and supportive people in my
life, and would like to spend some time reflecting on what the word family means in my life.
In my 26 years as a licensed funeral director at the
Stephens Funeral Home, I have had the privilege of serving many families, each
unique in their own way. Some families laugh, some families cry, some live
within the same neighborhood, others are spread across the country or the
world. Each family is different, with
its unique quirks, dynamics and personalities; yet, the love, care and support
I have the opportunity to witness on a daily basis represents the core of what
it means, and should mean, to be part of a family. Desmond Tutu, recipient of
the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, once wrote, “You don’t choose your family. They are
God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” A family is not simply a means of
organization, but a collection of people who all want to see each other make the
most out of all of the great opportunities in life, to achieve their dreams in
every way possible. Families do not always agree, and may not always like each
other, but, at the end of the day, you can always depend on them to pick you up
when you feel down, celebrate your accomplishments and provide the love and
support you need to live the life you have always imagined. I have been blessed
with the gift of an unbelievable family, not just to love and care for
personally, but to work and serve with professionally.
From an early age, my parents spent time teaching Lisa, Jenn
and myself the values that, as a member of our family, I could be expected to
uphold. To be honest and compassionate, hard working and humble, to always put
the needs of others first, and that there was no request too large or small
from a friend, among countless others. These values were more than simply
constraints to operate within, they were characteristics to exemplify, not just
within our house and in our relations with each other, but as we stepped into
our communities and the world. Lisa, Jenn and I now have families of our own,
and have sought to impart these same values to our children, encouraging them
to follow their passions into uncharted territory, but always remember where
they came from and the manner in which they can be expected to carry
themselves.
My older sister Lisa and her husband Rodney, whom I am proud
to call my brother-in-law as well as co-worker, have three fantastic boys who I
feel privileged to call my nephews. Jordan currently lives in Los Angeles as an
aspiring animator, and has proven time and time again that hard work, courage,
and character can propel you in the direction of your dreams. Griffin is a
rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh and recently returned from a
study abroad experience in Augsburg, Germany, where his intelligence and
humility demonstrated how much can be accomplished when we are willing to learn
about other peoples and cultures. Logan is a rising senior at Southern Lehigh High
School and a great soccer player, not because he was a child prodigy, but
because he works hard, is constantly learning, and is driven to be the best he
can be each and every day. My younger
sister Jenn and her husband Jimmy live in Denver, Colorado with their two boys.
This summer I was lucky enough to visit my sister, and was so proud to see, in
a place so far away, I felt at home with the people I love. Wyatt is entering 7th
grade, is incredibly intelligent, curious and interested in learning all he can
about the world. River is entering 4th grade, and absolutely loves
trying new things, something I think we could all do a little more in our own
lives.
It is in looking at the lives of all the members of my
family, the struggles, accomplishments, challenges and successes that inspire
me to wake up every morning and serve the members of my community to the
absolute best of my ability. I take pride, and find encouragement, seeing the
values and characteristics they live out each and every day, and how they have
used these values to pursue their dreams. I truly believe that family is the
glue that binds our world together, whether we laugh or cry, live together or
across the globe, are related by blood or simply by common purpose, we can have
a positive impact on the lives of others. I feel blessed to have the
opportunity for my family to continue to serve yours during their time of
greatest need, doing so in a brand new facility that fosters love, support,
care and compassion. It is through my family and yours, and the bonds we build,
that we can truly express what it means to live, to love, to laugh and cry, and
ultimately make a difference in the lives of those we care most about.
From a proud son, brother, husband, father, uncle and
friend,
Matt
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