Above is Tony, Gloria and Grandchildren (L) Kayden (R) Karli
Michael & Kim Berton’s Twins
Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await
a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be
like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all
things to himself.
Our time on this earth is not even a blink of an eye compared to the eternal time frame that is operating in Heaven. Only last week we had to say good-by to a dear friend of ours dying with cancer. I remember my husband Ron saying to Bob, “Bob we’re all here on borrowed time”. Bob shook his head among all of the tubes to say as if he agreed. We than ask him if he were afraid and he motioned no. He died that night and we will always miss Bob. He was a good man, good provider and loving husband. Death comes to all of us and for some it comes sooner and that is what this story is about. This blog is dedicated to my brother Tony Berton and Gloria his wife who reside in Tampa Bay, FL. It is in the memory of their daughter’ passing that I share what I hope will not be too difficult for the two of them to read.
First of all, I would like for you to meet my brother John (Tony) A. Berton and his lovely wife Gloria (pictured above). I can’t say enough about my brother for he suffered many years with a serious heart condition. After several heart attacks, his weakened body almost gave up h gfits fight for sustained life . His quality of life was broken but he never gave up and kept working at his job just as long as he could. My brother was too honorable to depend on government handouts and worked at his job until it was no longer possible. He is from the old school of which most folks know nothing about. I’ve seen him rise early to throw papers to help provide for his children’s college on top of his regular job or so I heard. We have opposite political views but that is ok for he is an exceptional human being who has seen much hardship. Believe me when I say, my brother would be considered a fortress by most folks. He loves people and is a humble sort of guy. His wife Gloria is an awesome partner to him. So giving and loving she is to everyone that know her. In all of the years he suffered, she refused to give up on him and fought to keep her faith and hope alive. It was down to the wire and his days and hours were numbered. Anyway, as G-d would have it, my brother was one of the lucky ones in Fairfax, VA . There was a car wreck, a young man around the age of 21 I think that provided my brother with renewed life. I don’t know why G-d always delivers at the last moment but for him, it truly was the last moment. I’m sure having such a loving and sacrificial wife made living a much more bearable when he was so sick. Tony wrote a book about all that he went through but you know how it is to author your first book. With no sales, he gave up the idea but what a blessing this book would have been to many who are fighting their own battles at this very moment.
My brother fought the good fight many times before facing the loss of their daughter. Struggling to get back on his feet, only to be struck down once more by life’s tragic interruptions.
The details of Christie’s death were not given to me at the time but today is her birthday and I’d like to offer this blog in memory of her graduation to Heaven. Every year around Christmas I grieve for them even though they now have a peace about her passing. Michael, Christie’s brother is a grand fellow and such a good husband and provider. He still wishes her a Happy Birthday on FB every year. After years of being married, Kim (Michael’s wife) was fortunate to finally become pregnant and it was definitely a surprise when they found out that there were two little bodies inside instead of one. Twins Karli and Kayden brought a magical healing to my brother and his wife. Such lucky children to be blessed by such wonderful human beings. The magic of LOVE has sustained them throughout it all and their faith in G-d.
My brother has a family that most people would envy. With Tony, every day is a happy day as when you lived on the edge as long as he did and then be given your life back, you learn quickly to appreciate all that life has to offer. This is truly a happy family and one that deserves the best of everything. They never complained when life seemed hopeless and they have not changed now that life is better. For what holds them together is a selfless love – Greek to most Americans today. This is the American family that everyone yearns to have.
This Christmas Season, I think of them and the loss of their beloved and precious daughter Christi whose life was taken at the age of 28 years old. Due to my brother living miles away, I never got to know the full details of what happened but lets just say that outside influence and the drama of being a psychologist was a huge factor. She cared so deeply for her patients, it took an unforgivable toll on her. A bright and lovely human being passed through life so swiftly. It was almost Christmas and the entire family was in total shock and awe. Tony and Gloria saw her nearly every day – they were a close family! Each time I think of Christie, I think of an angel just passing through.
Christie Michelle Berton
12/13/1967 – 12/20/1995
Today is Christie Michelle Berton’s Birthday. She would have been 46 years old. I’m sharing her picture and my thoughts on her parting. She was charming, witty, intelligent and an extremely compassionate person – much like her parents. I do not know that much about her parting except it was unexpected and shocking at the same time. Her degree was in Psychology and her specialty was helping people find functionality in their lives or in other words, peace of mind.
Christie died at a fairly young age but her sweet spirit lives on in our minds and hearts. Why didn’t G-d protect her and how could he have allowed such a beautiful human being to die so young. Such a loving spirit full of joy only to be taken in the blink of an eye. What a horrible tragedy for my brother and wife for one of the hardest things to endure is the loss of a child. Christi is no longer in the past – she resides in the future – our future. Changing the way we look at her passing, we lean on the hope that she is “fully alive in Heaven” and waiting for us when we too will cross over. None of us knows when our time will be – even I may see her first. I’m looking forward to it.
When we die is irrelevant but we all do and it just depends on who goes first. What gives me peace in a case such as this is that G-d may have spared her from something worse in her later years. For whatever reason, this is where we are forced to trust in a G-d that we’ve never seen. As loving and sweet as she was, this is the kind of person you would want to meet at the gates of Heaven. She was an angel in many respects.
Knowing the love that her parents gave her while she was with us gives me great comfort. The quality of life that she led while she was here was worth it all. Let us not be bound to the past but look eagerly to the future when we too will cross over and see our loved ones again in eternity. Remember the blink of an eye – we too can depart at any moment. All the more reason to humble our lives before the Lord – the keeper and creator of all things.