The Daniell Family
Unlike St. Paul, it’s hard to pin point a specific moment when my faith was awakened. I have no idea why I am so blessed, but I am. I have a most wonderful wife, two outstanding sons, a large loving family and dear friends. Patti and I will celebrate 39 years of marriage this October 7th. We live in Delray Beach, in the home Patti and I built 26 years ago. Both Mark and Peter grew up from Kindergarten through College graduations, in our home on Evans Road.
We’ve been blessed with wonderful neighbors. Last weekend Patti and I became godparents for Riley, the 6 year old boy who lives next door. He calls me his “best friend”. A few years ago while I was planting a tree in the back yard he came over wearing just a diaper. I asked him where his clothes were, he said “I don’t know”. So being the adult in the conversation, I said “perfect, we need to do a tree dance.” So the two of us did a dance around my newly planted tree. This started a tradition of tree dancing for each tree we’ve planted since! What fun!
That is how my life is. Little moments, quick, almost unremarkable. However, there are many special things that I have witnessed.
Do you believe in angels? Have you ever met an angel? How would you know? I believe in angels. I can testify they are real. My definition of an angel is someone God puts in your life to change your heart. You may not even be fully aware they were there. I’d like to share of how my life has been transformed by a few angels I’ve met.
The Angels of Love
First Family Photo
The first angels in my life are my sons, Mark and Peter. When Patti and I were married we wanted to start a family right away, but that didn’t happen. It was a difficult and challenging time. After 7 years and many surgeries, I remember very clearly sitting with Patti making the decision to adopt. This was foreign to our families as no one had adopted. We would be the first and we had one other surprise. We would be adopting a child from Korea. Patti’s family is a very large Italian family, VERY large and VERY Italian. My family is American. Every time I asked my mom what nationality I was, she would say “you’re American.” You get the picture.
We adopted our son Mark, and Patti took him into her arms in JFK airport February 26, 1987. Mark was 4 months old. We were now an interracial family. WE were head over heels in love with our little boy. He was just the cutest little guy. All of our concerns were forgotten.
A short while later Patti wanted to adopt a second child, but I was not so sure. I could not understand how it was possible to have any more love in my heart. I remember her laughing at me, but I was serious. I just didn’t know how much love a person could have and I really thought I had reached my limit.
Our son Peter arrived from Korea on November 12, 1988, and I was immediately in love with him. God knew it all along.
My Angels of Love transformed my life. God transformed our families, with love.
The Angel of Kindness
Moving Day 1989
The Daniell family moved to Boca Raton, Florida, Thanksgiving weekend 1989. That following spring, Patti started looking at pre-schools for Mark to attend. Patti visited many schools in Boca Raton, but none were the right fit. Then one day, a friend said to check out St. Paul’s. She went, and called me later in the day. “I found it” she was so excited, “it’s perfect, just perfect” She described the playground, the classrooms, the small classes and the teachers. She was so happy. It was spring, school started in August, great.
She caught me off guard the next weekend when she said, “we should go to church at St. Paul’s on Sunday. We need to support Mark’s school.” Whoa, when did this happen? Church, what? I thought school started in August?
Many of you have heard me say, Patti’s got religion, I’m just trying to be good. It’s true. Patti was raised Roman Catholic, grade school, high school, and Iona College. Me, not so much. I was unchurched as a youth. I did attend an occasional Sunday service at Grace Episcopal Church in Manhattan with friends shortly after Patti and I got married. Church was not something I planned for. I also did not know the Day School motto “A Child Shall Lead Them” or that the Day School song was “This is the Day.”
Anyway off we go to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on just a regular spring Sunday. It was on that very normal Sunday that I met the Angel of Kindness, Rolene Gent. She was the director of St. Paul’s Day School.
Patti Daniell and Rolene Gent
I’m not sure how to describe how I felt when I met her, but it was immediate. She was so calm, graceful, smiling as the children from the church were just loving on her. She had been the Director for some time so there were a lot of Alumni that knew her. She became Patti’s dear friend and mentor. After Rolene’s passing, Patti succeeded her as Director of the Day School.
Over the next several years I got to know Rolene well. She greeted everyone with a smile and was totally committed to the children of St. Paul’s and all of the children in our community. She had many hardships in her life, however, she did not share those problems. She had a great sense of humor and always had a joke or two. When she passed we were in her house, Patti held her hand, and Mark, Peter, and I sat in the living room doing homework. We inherited her personal Holy Bible. It’s tattered and the pages are marked with her handwritten notes. When I first held it, a piece of paper fell out. On it were 10 jokes from the bible: “Who was the most constipated man in the Bible? David, he sat on the throne for 40 years”. I loved Rolene, we still have the bible.
When you get a chance, look at the stained glass window in the breezeway next to the staircase. It depicts Jesus surrounded by children. It was installed and dedicated to honor Rolene’s ministry and her 33 years as director of the Day School.
Kindness Awards
St. Paul’s Day School is now in its 54th Year. Every week since the very beginning, a student is recognized for an act of kindness and is given a Kindness Award. This award was originated by Rolene Gent. She is the most kind person I have ever met.
The Angels of Help
In the mid-late 90’s, a Haitian family moved into an apartment on SW 2nd street. Their front door was about 200 feet from St. Paul’s front door. Every Sunday the Mom would send her children over to St. Paul’s on their own. They’d arrive hungry and a little rambunctious. They had no idea what was going on other than there were some friendly people and food. The children always came into church for service, this was a God thing. At first we weren’t sure what was going on, we didn’t know the children or their family situation. Where were their parents? On Easter Sunday our Rector, Fr. Clawson asked if I would watch over the kids as it was going to be a busy day. While this was not the first time I had met the children, it was the first time I was actually asked to watch them. The children’s names are Evans and Marie Delva.
They needed our help, and we needed theirs.
These two little Haitian children transformed St. Paul’s. Evans and Marie were with us for several years. They would come to St. Paul’s after school to play on the playground and in the court yard. It didn’t take long before a small group of parishioners, led my Joyce and Bill Harvey, took on the task to help these children with their homework. This initiative, this very small act, inspired by two little children who needed our help and a handful of kind people is the mustard seed of faith that spawned Paul’s Place.
Paul’s Place Afterschool Program
Paul’s Place is now in its 17th year, has 30+ children each day from the surrounding neighborhood, participating in this wonderful after school program. Many of the children that were tutored at Paul’s Place have gone on to attend college.
Life-changing transformations happen at Paul’s Place in the lives of the students and their families. This will go on for years to come, inspired by two little angels that needed our help and the angels who came forward to serve them.
There are many more angels I could tell you about….
I worship at St. Paul’s because I know God’s spirit is alive in the people who worship in this beautiful building. I am inspired by all of the good people I have met and the good deeds they are doing. I know there are many angels among us. I know there are many good deeds still to be done.
When you come to St Paul’s Church, smile, say hello and welcome all people. God will find you and you will find God.