In Memory of Debbie Ford
October 1, 1955 – February 17, 2013
Dear Friends,
It's hard to believe that it's been nearly a year since Debbie passed. We have heard from so many of you that you can feel her with you and know that through her spirit and amazing body of work, her radiance and brilliance continue to guide and inspire you on your life journey. Her spirit and wisdom continue to shine brightly!
There are several occasions in the Jewish tradition each year when the dead are memorialized. The most significant of these is Yahrzeit, the anniversary of the death, which is observed according to the Hebrew calendar.
In memory of Debbie and according to the Hebrew calendar, we invite you to observe Debbie's Yahrzeit this year by lighting a Yahrzeit candle (or any 24-hour candle) at sunset on the evening of Friday February 7th and letting it burn through Saturday February 8th. This candle is symbolic of Debbie's soul and spirit.
When you light the Yahrzeit candle, please say the following blessing:
| |
Eternal G-d, as I kindle this Yahrzeit candle on the anniversary of the death of my beloved Debbie Ford, the memory of her life passes before me. I reverently recall the moments we shared together. Time cannot efface the measure of her memories. I shall ever be grateful for the sacrifices made on my behalf. With affection and understanding, she stood by my side to guide and encourage me when I needed help. She taught me to love Thee, O G-d, and to keep thy Commandments.
I light this Yahrzeit candle in loving memory of Debbie Ford who has gone to her eternal resting place. I give thanks for the blessing of life, of companionship, and of memory. Though Debbie is beyond my sight, I do not despair, for I sense my beloved in my heart as a living presence. May her soul be given life everlasting and may her memory always remain a comfort and source of inspiration.
|
|
In the Jewish tradition, it is also customary to commemorate the anniversary of a death by making charitable donations. If you would like to honor Debbie, we invite you to contribute to the Girl Power Project.
As you may know, Debbie was passionate about empowering people to overcome the obstacles in their lives through transformational education. She brought this commitment to the poorest of the world's poor. By mobilizing her son Beau and her community of coaches and supporters to fund the construction of three Collective Heart schools, she helped change the future of over 800 children in rural Uganda who are now learning in clean, bright, safe learning environments.
When Debbie learned of the plight of vulnerable adolescent girls and the efforts of Just Like My Child's Girl Power Project, she and The Collective Heart rallied to get the project off the ground. Today, the Girl Power Project is poised to make a serious dent in poverty by reaching one million girls. Through Debbie's commitment, thousands of girls are already finding their voice, staying in school, avoiding early marriage and pregnancy, and living to be productive contributors to the planet. You can make a contribution by going here: http://bit.ly/1n6fdbB
Thank you for joining with us to commemorate the life of the remarkable Debbie Ford.
With love and blessings,
The Ford Family and the Staff of The Ford Institute for Transformational Training
