Karen Fliehler's Faith Story

One Sunday in July, I read about the "Sharing Our Faith" project planned for the STA bulletin. Right away I had doubts as to having anything to share that others would find interesting. Then the next day, I receive, in the mail, a story that I knew I had to share with others.

In early June my father passed away after a brief illness. This is a story that my sister sent to my siblings and me a month after his passing. She said that she knew it was to be shared with our family and she was the messenger, chosen to relay it to us. I, in turn, want to share it with my church family.

First Rose of Summer

I believe there are moments in life when the spirit of a loved one is present with us, sharing joys and helping us through times of sorrow.

Last summer before our parents' house was put on the market, Dan and I transplanted one of Mother's small rose bushes to my garden, a memory of her love for flowers. We had little hope of success, having planted several rose bushes in the past with none surviving the country winters. Dry brown branches this spring gave little promise but as weeks passed, green leaves appeared at the base of the bush. While Dad's health rapidly declined, my gardens had very little attention.

The air was fresh and sunlit that June morning as I walked through my garden before the funeral. What I saw took my breath away.

A beautiful yellow rose graced the little bush, petals perfectly cupped in full bloom. Mother held us in her arms that morning and welcomed Dad into heaven's garden. The little rose bush may not survive another country winter, but the first rose of summer will be with us always.

-Karen Fliehler
Karen and Bill have been STA parishioners for 29 years, plus attended here during college years in the early 70's. They have two grown children, Jennifer and Brian, who were raised in St. Thomas. Brian was baptized, at STA. Jennifer served as STA Development Coordinator for four years before moving to Minnesota. Jennifer met her husband seven years ago in the church and they were engaged and married here last year. We have been involved in various ways (prayer network, clean-up days, basement sale, coffee and donuts, bulk mailings, served as Eucharistic ministers, etc) in the parish throughout the years. Our family agrees that there is no place like St. Thomas!