Lisa Salvato
My father, Anthony Salvato, was the humblest person I ever met without working at it for one moment. He didn’t know how loving, selfless, forgiving and generous he was. He didn’t know that love is most often conditional because he simply gave it unconditionally. He didn’t know how selfless he was to work 7 days a week without complaint or benefit to himself; he asked for little more than coffee and his paper in the morning, dinner on the table at night, and a clear view of the TV when the news, the NY Yankees or the NY Giants were on it. He didn’t appear to know the phrase an “eye for an eye" as he easily practiced forgiveness. Not just forgiving someone 7 times, but let’s say, 70 x 7 times. He didn’t know how generous he was for giving to others, not just to family members and friends, but to neighbors and virtual or actual strangers, something he had that, well, someone else needed or wanted.
What my father knew, though, was that God existed. He believed in One God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ. And in one Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the giver of the most important life in world history. And in one Church, holy, Catholic and apostolic. My father knew that you should love God with all your being and your neighbor as yourself. Because, of course, Love Is Everything.
So, I guess I’m one of the few people who can say with accuracy that my father really did know everything.
Pax tecum, dad. Love always, Lisa Ann