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Blog ArticlesLaura2021-09-09T13:52:25-05:00

Remembering What Evil Stole From Us 23 Years Ago Today

Reader,

“On September 11, I always take the day off. I want to be in a peaceful, quiet place praying. It is a day I both mourn and celebrate.”

– Genelle Guzman-McMillan, 9/11 survivor

“It’s the nature of the world that most people have moved on, but the people directly involved with 9/11, for them, twice a day it’s 9/11.”

– Robert Reeg, former FDNY firefighter

“I still have the shoes I wore to work that day. The soles are melted, and they’re caked in ash. I keep them in a shoebox with the word ‘deliverance’ written all around it. They’re kind of like my ark, a reminder of God’s presence and the life I owe to him.”

– Stanley Praimnath, 9/11 survivor

“My father, Norberto, was a pastry chef at Windows on the World in Tower One. For 10 years, he made many fancy and famous desserts, but the sweetest dessert he made was the marble cake he made for us at home… Whenever we parted, Poppi would say, ‘Te amo. Vaya con Dios.’ And this morning, I want to say the same thing to you, Poppi. ‘I love you. Go with God.'”

—Catherine Hernandez at the World Trade Center site in 2008

John Certalic

johncertalic.com

Director – Caring for Others

Podcaster –You Were Made for This

September 11th, 2024|Categories: Blog|

Articles

“At the end of the day, nothing matters MORE than relationships.” — John Certalic

Ask Someone What They are Feeling

John Certalic2020-07-22T19:13:30-05:00July 29th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: asking, asking questions, emotions, feelings, laughter, reactions to events, relationships|

Asking someone what they are feeling will draw people closer together. Read here how to deepen your relationships by going beyond the events in people's lives. I found myself thinking

5 Keys to Really Great Family Vacations

John Certalic2020-07-24T21:42:34-05:00July 22nd, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: assumptions, expetations, family, family relationships, family vacation, relationships, Thanksgiving|

Great family vacations take careful planning beyond how to get to our destination, and what to pack. Great family vacations pay attention to relationships, and what we can do to

Creative Connecting with Others: A Listener Story

John Certalic2021-09-10T12:46:19-05:00July 15th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: connecting with people, creativity, fun, joy, loneliness, lonely, love, neighbors|

Creative connecting with others is one way to ease the loneliness many of us feel during this coronavirus era. A Florida listener to our You Were Made for This podcast

Obstacles in a Relationship

John Certalic2020-07-07T18:57:09-05:00July 8th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: character of God, forgiveness, God, obstacles in relationships, relational obstacles, relationships|

Obstacles in a relationship are opportunities to reflect the character of God. How we deal with them are occasions to glorify him. I’ve been thinking about this in the context

Being Critical of Others Will Humble Us

John Certalic2020-07-01T09:05:22-05:00July 1st, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: critical of others, forgiveness, God, humblemess, humility, judgemental, understanding|

Being critical of others will humble us when we better understand why people do what they do. I was reminded of this in a humbling moment a few weeks ago.

Dads Spark Joy When They Create Memories

John Certalic2020-06-23T21:15:09-05:00June 24th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: end of the school year, family, family relationships, Fathers Day, funeral, graduation, laughter, memories, parents, relationships, tradition|

Dads spark joy when they create memories for their family. It’s one of the great privileges of fatherhood. If you’re a dad, it’s what they’ll talk about at your funeral.

How to Celebrate Father's Day in 2020

John Certalic2020-06-14T20:24:28-05:00June 17th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: closure, family relationships, father, Fathers Day, grief, high schoo gradution, loss, love, relationships|

How to celebrate Father's Day in 2020 is different this year due to Covid-19. I saw it on the face of a father talking about his son graduating from high

It's Still Amazing Out There

John Certalic2020-06-09T19:26:40-05:00June 10th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: caring, Christian, cross-cultural relationships, God, Jesus, joy, listening, loss of innocence, stories|

Cross-cultural relationship encounters enrich our lives when we least expect it. I had one the other evening, even though it happened in the context of a disappointing change in attitude

Kindness before dawn

John Certalic2020-01-11T12:13:09-06:00January 15th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: caring, kindness, remember, remembering, stories|

I’m chomping at the bit for the start of season 3 of our You Were Made for This podcast. Only 7 more days to January 22 when we’re back on

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John’s relationship story starts with his birth to a single mother and placement in foster care for the first 16 months of his life. From this comes four different careers, 51 years of marriage to the same wife, and much he has learned about relationships. John draws from all this, along with inspiring stories from his guests, to share how you can find more fulfillment in the relationships you were made for.

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