This Made Me Cry & Changed My Life

Responses Received

"I watched the video PARENT'S WISH and I have to say that it is one of the most touching things I've ever seen.I recently lost my mother and this reminded me of her so much,I cried. VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Debra"

"I just read your "You Raise Me Up" email...Thank you for sending this to everyone. I'm 36 and have both of my 78 year old parents still living - I get so short with them and impatient a lot. This really made me rethink things and to value them even more. I believe God is using you and this song/video to make us more appreciative of our parents. Thank you again! Joy in Va."

"Both my real and foster parents, my wife and sister are all gone. This really hit home because i was caretaker for two of them and did everything possible to make their life happier. I just hope when it's my turn I will get the same respect. I will keep this going and it is a God send. Thank you. - John Bucanis"

"Universal bare truth. The stroy make me to cry. All most all has to experience such situation in his life and good lesson for every body to adopt for their Dad and Mon. -- Umakant (India)"

"WOW!!!! The tears are still streaming down my face..... Your Mother would be so very proud of you for doing this... This is so special......you will touch many many hearts!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!! Love, Sandy"

"I had to just go through and listen to it again. When I think of Mom sitting in her chair, just waiting for someone to visit or say a kind word, I am ashamed of the way I talk about her sometimes. We took Helen to church with us today, and they served chili afterwards. She so enjoyed it, and said so many times. - Karen"

"This is touching and so beautiful I could not help but cry. Thank you for sharing. - Maurie"

"Just listened to You Raise Me Up and like all have tears running down my face. I buried my dad in June of last year-he lived with us for a little over a year after falling a breaking a hip. I was truely blessed to be able to share our home and time with him. I know he was happy even though often he thought he was a burden. While some days were tougher than others we never viewed him as a burden. I am forwarding your message to my children. Thank You. - Donna"

"Barbara, thank you so much for sharing this. You are truly a blessing. -- In His Love, Margaret, a.k.a. Lovie A. Clown

"Thank you so much for sharing this with me! I really needed that reality check. "You raise me up" is my Mother's favorite Josh Groban song. I cannot thank you enough for sahring this with me! - Tenesha

"I just watched your video and it was so sweet.You were right I cried. I am a cancer surviver, just this year and in the mist of all of that illness I lost my Mother...All I could think of was who will pray for me. Who will I call to help me through this. Of course I had our Lord but remember he made mothers and he knows the importance they are in times like that. When I read your Mother was still living I had to tell you... you will never know, no matter how many times people tell you, how much you will miss her you still can't imagine it.So please... enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. - Becky"

"Thank you for the Valentines "Parents Wish" it strikes home because we are now caring for my husbands 92 year old father some days are great!! some, not so good. We want him to be comforted in knowing that his family is with him in these trying times and that is is not alone. - Laura"

"I lost my mom almost 17 years ago to cancer and she needed help at the end. I was able to be there and never hesitated. Thank you for sending that out, not enough children understand what their parents did for them. Yes, it brought alot of tears to my eyes. I am sending it to my children. Thank you. - Cathy"

"Such heartwarming responses!!!!! You've truly done a wondrous thing by sharing this lovely tribute to our elderly....they are too often shoved into the background of our busy lives....it took me at least a year to get over loosing my Mother....and I still think of her often......we didn't have much of a relationship until after my Dad passed and I went up to Oregon and lived with her to help her through it all.....I always Thank God that He gave me that opportunity.....I'm sure that becuse of this, many many people will look at their parents with more loving eyes.....and that is a blessing for all...Loves, Sandy"

"Thank you so very much for the Valentine Gift. My tears started by the end of the second paragraph, I actually had to wait several minutes before I could listen. My mom passed away 5 years ago as of Feb. 1st. Bless you and all those that still have time to say I love you to them each and every day. - Camilla"

"I have a grandma who is the utmost of kindness .one can never imagine what a heart she has . she loves me so much and I feel great when she prays for me .nowadays , she's really sick ,probably blood cancer .I just can't picture my life without her . I wish I could sing the song to her . Thanks to you and Josh .May I have My grandma for more time ??(sara)"

"Thank you dear God for those inspiring words of wisdom. I will definitely try to be a better daughter to my 89 year Dad. I have said so many things against my Dad, God forgive me for my evil thoughts. I will give him a hug tomorrow (God willing) when I see him. - Miriam"

"What a message. My mom was 52 when she died 3 years ago with cancer and it was hard to watch her go from spunky to not being able to walk or go to the bathroom on her own. So if you find yourself in that situation... taking care of someone who can't do it on their own cherish that time, try not to get frustrated and let them know they're not a burden and they're loved. Thank you for sending this to me. - Christa"

"Thank you for sharing this. - Laurie"

"WOW" Hardly says it! This really hits you right where the Heart is. I have a Terminally Ill Father and a Heart Broken Mother (because of his Illness) and what soon will be our Families Loss. He is 84 and they have been Married for 60 years, as of Dec. 2005. He will be missed and there can be no replacing him. It is extremely hard to keep yourself in check, to have patience and to give them the Respect, they oh so Deserve, when you are trying to help them eat properly and take care of themselves, when their self presurvation no longer seems to matter, because of what Life has now dealt them. You cannot blame them, you can only Love Them both for what Little Time you may have Left with them. - Rod"

"The "Parent's Wish" is beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us. I can't imagine anyone holding back tears. Your love for God and people shows in everything you do. You have such a soft heart and always bring out the best in folks. You are always ready to share your knowledge and that's a rare quality today. Your are truly a blessing and your family is blessed to have you in their life. - Jackie"

"Thanks, so very much for sharing this with me. My father passed 1994 and I still have my mom, who will be 97 this May. She, too is in Nursing Home. God, please forgive me for being so short with her. This song has really opened my eyes and heart. - Delores"

"Thank you for sharing these important, meaningful thoughts. My 93 year old mother fell and broke her hip last year, but in healing she has the will to continue on because she knows we care so much and love to be with her as often as possible. She has made a remarkable recovery and we are so proud of her. There will be more rough times ahead, but for now we are truly blessed. Thanks again. Sue"

"This is UNDOUBTLY the sweetest tribute that I have EVER seen to the aging parent. I no longer have my dad with me. He died at the early age of 53 yesrs old of a heart attack. I do so wish that he were here with me. He would be 80 yrs old if he had lived. I would give ANYTHING to have him here with me. I would most surely take care of him if he needed me to. I do in home health care and work with elderly people every day. I love my workand I find it fulfilling and rewarding to work with such a wonderful age group like the elderly. Those of you who have elderly parents, PLEASE, count your blessings that you still have them with you, because, believe me when I say this, when they DO GO home to the heavenly father, you WILL miss them. When I lost my dad, I was so hurt, confused, and scared, but most of all, my heart was so very badly broken that I wanted nothing more than to die myself.I realixe that I was only 22 yrs old when he died. So you see, nobody was expecting him to die. In fact, the hospital said that he was improving and they moved him out of ICU. Well, no one expected it, but he went into cardiac arrest and it killed him. It was a shock and very much much a trauma to me. There is a nother song that makes me think of my dad when I hear it. The song is called "Wake Me Up When September Ends". The song is done by Green Day. Billie Joe Armstrong wrote it as a tribute to his dad. My dad died in December, and I always think of the month of December of 1978, the year that my father died when I hear that song. I wish that I could have slept through that whole time so that I would not have felt the pain and had the suisidal thoughts that I did have when he died. For those of you who do have elderly parents, love them while tey are here. They took care of you, now they need YOUR help. Someday, they will no longer be here for you to love them and take care of them. They took care of you for so many years.Think about it. I want my dad to be here with me. I know that he can't be, so I have his memory in my heart for going on 28 years since his death. I wish that I coud ACTUALLY put my arms around HIM and hug HIM. - Melody"

"My mother is in assisted living and wanting to go home. Sometimes it has been frustrating and this was sent to me to put me on the right track. It is beautiful. Candy"

"I want to thank you very much for this beautiful page.I take care of my 90yr old MOTHER.I have had her with me for 16yrs. sometimes it gets really hard because I don't have anyone to relieve me because I am an only child.My father died when I was 10yrs old.I love having her with me for all the reasons mentioned in this page. - Linda"

"POWERFUL! And oh so beautiful. Thank you for the reminder. - Lisa"

"I am Caregiving to both my parents. I have quit my job and am now a house-husband for part of a month for my teenaged son and daughter, and of course, my wonderful wife.

I spend half of the month with my parents who live 500 miles from my home. I drive to their home each month and back to my family again.

My brothers and sister, friends and other family members ask me "WHY?"

This video and music piece explains it in total perspective. Emotionally, intellectually, and hunanely. This says it all.

I can not give back to them what they have given me. But now I can give them the respect and dignity to be who they are for as long as they want to be my loving parents and I am their loving son.

This is the least that I can do for all they have done for me in climbing that mountain of life. My time with them will be forever cherished as the greatest treasure I have ever claimed. - Robert"

"I lost my mum this year she was younger only 56 it reminds us all not just of our parents but our duties as parents and the precious time we have with our kids. I did not cry when I seen this once twice or as many times as I have played it now I smiled and remembered what our parents done for us and what I will do for my kids. - Robert"

"I am in or. Both my grand parents and parents has passed on but I am so touched by this that I am sending this to everyone I know that has grandparents and parents that are still with them. Thank you for sharing this treasure with all of us. - Juanita"

"Thank you. Yes, I cried. I only wish I could have read this 10 years ago before I lost my own parents. When they repeated and I was frustrated, or when they wanted to die and I was angry. I only hope my own children will gain some insight from this message and give me more grace. And Yes, I forwarded the site to them. - Patty"

"Your E-mail of A Parents Wish is beautiful it really hit home as my Mother is 93 years old so everything in this piece really touched my heart. Thank you for sharing it. - Phyllis"

"thank you for sharing. i lost my mom in 2001 with cancer. my father is 95. i get upset with him some times. boy does this make you think. thank you so much for sharing with every one. im going to work harder with my dad. thanks linda"

"This was wonderful. My mom will turn 80 next Tuesday. She is pretty good health and for that I am so thankful. She is a wonderful person and I enjoy just having her with me when I can spend time with her. I know that someday I won't be able to call her and see her, but I know that she will be with me... in my heart. She has lived a long life and has seen many changes. She is an amazing woman. I love her dearly. Happy Birthday, Mom! - Phil"

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