No matter when death happens, we do not expect it. It may be sudden, or it may be a loved one, being ill over a period of time. Whenever it is, it is hard to accept. Someone we have loved, cared for, whom we have laughed with, talked with, and shared a hug, is no longer there. So often, the first question is to ask God why. Why did you do this, God? Why did you let this happen? Why did you let this person suffer? This is the hardest thing to grasp; the next hardest thing is realizing God didn't cause the suffering, the illness, nor the sudden death. He gave us choices to make, while others were done to human error, and still others due to the chemistry of the body, a mix-up of the make-up.. God would not impose suffering upon anyone; that was taken care of when he offered His Son so the rest of us, for all of the generations to come. God created all of us, but to decide on the genetics of everyone is not up to Him. He may have others suffer more than our brethren, but He may have felt these are the ones who can inspire all of us, to continue to give all we have in order to survive. These are the ones to whom He has a special connection. If this other person go through a hardship, then so can the next. Showing a positive, strong attitude is a definite attribute to survival. Even those who pass away during the suffering leave an impact for those left behind. His Son may have died, but once in awhile, He needs to send a reminder to us how we must live our lives. He doesn't pick anyone to go through an early death, He picks those special few to whom He feels can leave an impact upon many. As years go by, we still do not forget those who left life before their time. But, we must continue to remember it is because God chose them, to leave their mark, affecting a multitude of plenty. We recall, through them, never to take life for granted. Sometimes, it is easy to forget the role of God and the good life He gives us. By selecting a certain few, the message is once again delivered that all of us are gifts from God. Without those giving their lives, we can tend to forget the wonders of our mighty Lord. How glorious He will make the lives of those who suffered, so the rest of us may have a better life!
It is hard for those whom are left behind. It is out of order, to have someone young pass away, or a child before the parents. It does not matter if the child is now an adult; this person is still passing away before the individual's time. It is the time to ask God to give comfort to the family, to the friends and to welcome the loved one into Heaven. Ask that there will no longer be pain, nor suffering, nor a sadness among the deceased. It is very, very hard for those left behind. As the loved ones continue to try and go on with life, it is a time to remember that the one whom has passed away is now in a peace we cannot describe until we are there to join our endearing person. It may take years to begin to envelop this peace. Let all of us pray for those going through such a catastrophic process. We are to never judge those continuing in their sorrow. We are only to pray for their wellness, that they one day feel the peace their loved one feels, now living an eternal life with God.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
A TEEN'S EXCITEMENT
I have been assisting a delightful young man, age 17, preparing him for receiving some of the sacraments of the Church. He is devoted to his faith, portraying a strong sense of spirituality through all he says. He is quite excited about receiving the sacraments, something not always seen in a teen. His eyes capture one, as they portray his deep seeded love for God.
A part of my philosophy in teaching is to get to know students as individuals. I want each one to know me on a personal level, as well as me getting to know them. Those in front of me are not just a number or a body; they each have a character, blessed by the Spirit, and I am interested to know what it is. I want to embrace them for who they are. I can incorporate my experiences and wisdom into their lives, but I cannot expect them to be just like me. They are to live their lives in the image of God, not in the image of me.
Following my philosophy, I asked my polite teen if he had enjoyed the weekend. He said it was good, but he was tired from staying up so late the night before. I asked him what he had been doing, to go to bed at 2AM. He had been working on his truck, he told me. As I proceeded to ask him what he was doing on his truck, one question following another, I learned just what a great person he is. In the course of the conversation, I found out what his family means to him, what they have taught him, and what pride he has in everything he takes on in life. He showed me the cross he wears on a chain around his neck, saying how special it is. He told me how he practices humility, using the talents God gave him to benefit others.
Our session time went beyond how long we were to meet. I hated to tell him we had to end, as Mass was ready to start; we needed to go into the Church, leaving the room we were in. He could not believe our session was finished, that there must still be time to talk about more things.
He became my teacher that session. His excitement flowed over, so filled with the love of God. He is truly an example of living the faith.
A part of my philosophy in teaching is to get to know students as individuals. I want each one to know me on a personal level, as well as me getting to know them. Those in front of me are not just a number or a body; they each have a character, blessed by the Spirit, and I am interested to know what it is. I want to embrace them for who they are. I can incorporate my experiences and wisdom into their lives, but I cannot expect them to be just like me. They are to live their lives in the image of God, not in the image of me.
Following my philosophy, I asked my polite teen if he had enjoyed the weekend. He said it was good, but he was tired from staying up so late the night before. I asked him what he had been doing, to go to bed at 2AM. He had been working on his truck, he told me. As I proceeded to ask him what he was doing on his truck, one question following another, I learned just what a great person he is. In the course of the conversation, I found out what his family means to him, what they have taught him, and what pride he has in everything he takes on in life. He showed me the cross he wears on a chain around his neck, saying how special it is. He told me how he practices humility, using the talents God gave him to benefit others.
Our session time went beyond how long we were to meet. I hated to tell him we had to end, as Mass was ready to start; we needed to go into the Church, leaving the room we were in. He could not believe our session was finished, that there must still be time to talk about more things.
He became my teacher that session. His excitement flowed over, so filled with the love of God. He is truly an example of living the faith.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
COMPARING THE CROSS
So often, as we go through something which brings us unbearable pain, there is the feeling no one has gone through something as bad as we have. True, there are incidents which I feel are beyond comprehension in the depth of pain, such as the death of a child. But, as others go through personal pain, we are not the ones to judge how heavy the cross is that they carry the burden upon their shoulders. It is easy to judge, but this isn't what God wants of us.
Yes, I have judged, I must admit. But immediately, I do feel God telling me to calm down; He will take care of things. Are my thoughts going to be the ones who changes this person? No, as they are just thoughts. I wouldn't dare go up to that person and say, “You don't know what a REAL problem is...” To this person, it is a real problem. How this person feels is not going to affect what is going on in my own life. If we begin to get angry or upset about it, this takes over, rather than focusing on our own heaviness.
Maybe, just maybe, we can pray to God, asking Him to help those we know in need. I know, it may be as simple as a broken fingernail, which to us is ridiculous. But to a teenager, this is a moment of distraught. Why not turn into this person, acknowledging the problem. The person may feel as if someone really understands the weight of that cross. It won't hurt us to say “I'm sorry.” Only two words!
Praise God, thanking Him for what He does do for each of us. Make known how He has been there, helping us to carry our cross. Pray that He will be there to help others carry their cross. It may appear minor to us, but to another, it is major. Let God decide how to handle it.
As for me, every time I think of my cross being heavy, I think of those passing away before their time. Immediately after this first thought, I think of how Christ suffered on the cross, bringing to my own mind words that I cannot express . Only picturing what He went through brings grimace to my face and pain to my heart.
This may be the same picture people have in their minds as they go through their own suffering. Let us pray to Christ to be there, to help one and all.
Yes, I have judged, I must admit. But immediately, I do feel God telling me to calm down; He will take care of things. Are my thoughts going to be the ones who changes this person? No, as they are just thoughts. I wouldn't dare go up to that person and say, “You don't know what a REAL problem is...” To this person, it is a real problem. How this person feels is not going to affect what is going on in my own life. If we begin to get angry or upset about it, this takes over, rather than focusing on our own heaviness.
Maybe, just maybe, we can pray to God, asking Him to help those we know in need. I know, it may be as simple as a broken fingernail, which to us is ridiculous. But to a teenager, this is a moment of distraught. Why not turn into this person, acknowledging the problem. The person may feel as if someone really understands the weight of that cross. It won't hurt us to say “I'm sorry.” Only two words!
Praise God, thanking Him for what He does do for each of us. Make known how He has been there, helping us to carry our cross. Pray that He will be there to help others carry their cross. It may appear minor to us, but to another, it is major. Let God decide how to handle it.
As for me, every time I think of my cross being heavy, I think of those passing away before their time. Immediately after this first thought, I think of how Christ suffered on the cross, bringing to my own mind words that I cannot express . Only picturing what He went through brings grimace to my face and pain to my heart.
This may be the same picture people have in their minds as they go through their own suffering. Let us pray to Christ to be there, to help one and all.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Working Together
I had hoped to not miss a day of writing during the Lenten Season. But, ahhh, it happened. Though I love to write, I had to put my family first. My teenage daughter was in a few choir concerts, as well as the two of us having the chore of putting together a portfolio needed for a specific scholarship. We were honored she had been nominated for the $500 award, knowing it could lead to a second scholarship of $1000, but knew we had some work ahead of us in order to meet deadlines of turning everything in. We thought we were through putting together her portfolio a week ago, but we were asked to fine tune it a bit, including adding a table of contents to the portfolio. Though worn out from the work, it was well worth it, hoping the scholarship comes through.
It was also fun to create the portfolio. For years, I have stored up those beautiful scrapbook sheets sold in the craft stores. I kept thinking that at some time, I would use them to create something wonderful. I had also collected various stickers and packages of alphabet letters, all in different fonts, envisioning that one day, I would create a masterpiece. Now, I had my chance to use those stocked up supplies.
My 18 year old and I worked beautifully as we compiled page after page of projects, awards and activities. For years, she had stored everything in a big notebook, dropping something into the book every time she had a new momento. There was no rhyme or reason to this file. It is the same file system I have had for all of those photos we took of our children at different stages of their lives. It was fun, as memories stirred viewing each item, placing pieces in a particular pile, according to the activity and the year it happened.
We were ready to begin, having the paper cutter, scissors, glue, markers, pens, stickers and a mass array of beautifully colored sheets surrounding us. On went the music as we set to work. What a great team we made. I was amazed how alike we were in our creativity, adding borders, headlines and stickers to surround the subject matter of that particular page. We worked on separate sheets in silence, with only the music in the background. But, at the same time, we were together, as one unit, aiming toward one goal.
It made me think of the passage in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13: ‘The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts, and though all of its parts are many, they form one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or fee-and we were all given the one spirit, to drink.’ We all continue in our lives to be separate, yet, we all continue to join together as one. We had numerous pieces of a life, yet were able to be united as one at the end of our masterpiece. My daughter and I may be years apart age wise, yet, we continue to be one, with the same idea, of wanting to serve others. How true this is, across the continents. We may think we are different from one another, but under the eyes of God, we are the same. We want to be there for one another, through many different means, whether it be through words, actions or song.
It was a special time for the two of us, as we relived the memories of the past, while still working toward the present, which will continue to aid us in our future. God continues to show us how life is intertwined, with the past, the present and future all working together. Let us thank Him, for all that He continues to give us, no matter the stage of life we are in.
It was also fun to create the portfolio. For years, I have stored up those beautiful scrapbook sheets sold in the craft stores. I kept thinking that at some time, I would use them to create something wonderful. I had also collected various stickers and packages of alphabet letters, all in different fonts, envisioning that one day, I would create a masterpiece. Now, I had my chance to use those stocked up supplies.
My 18 year old and I worked beautifully as we compiled page after page of projects, awards and activities. For years, she had stored everything in a big notebook, dropping something into the book every time she had a new momento. There was no rhyme or reason to this file. It is the same file system I have had for all of those photos we took of our children at different stages of their lives. It was fun, as memories stirred viewing each item, placing pieces in a particular pile, according to the activity and the year it happened.
We were ready to begin, having the paper cutter, scissors, glue, markers, pens, stickers and a mass array of beautifully colored sheets surrounding us. On went the music as we set to work. What a great team we made. I was amazed how alike we were in our creativity, adding borders, headlines and stickers to surround the subject matter of that particular page. We worked on separate sheets in silence, with only the music in the background. But, at the same time, we were together, as one unit, aiming toward one goal.
It made me think of the passage in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13: ‘The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts, and though all of its parts are many, they form one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or fee-and we were all given the one spirit, to drink.’ We all continue in our lives to be separate, yet, we all continue to join together as one. We had numerous pieces of a life, yet were able to be united as one at the end of our masterpiece. My daughter and I may be years apart age wise, yet, we continue to be one, with the same idea, of wanting to serve others. How true this is, across the continents. We may think we are different from one another, but under the eyes of God, we are the same. We want to be there for one another, through many different means, whether it be through words, actions or song.
It was a special time for the two of us, as we relived the memories of the past, while still working toward the present, which will continue to aid us in our future. God continues to show us how life is intertwined, with the past, the present and future all working together. Let us thank Him, for all that He continues to give us, no matter the stage of life we are in.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Inconveniences vs. Problems
What a day, with all the snow continuing to fall. So many of us are tired of one snowstorm after another. It makes me think of what I often ask myself, “Is it an inconvenience, or is it a problem?” Of course, it is an inconvenience! We are tired of looking out our windows, only seeing white everywhere, rather than the greens of springtime.
I often have to ask myself, “Is it an inconvenience, or is it a problem?” I call anything that is not terminal to my health an inconvenience. Yes, I have likely said this before. Yet, I continue to see others make inconveniences a problem. Just yesterday, I witnessed what was an inconvenience become a major problem. No, it was not going to be terminal to anyone, but I saw a will of the minds. I was asked to intervene. I did the best I could. To think we were in a Church situation, yet there was someone trying to overstep another, rather than thinking of the consequences. I had to silently laugh, over such a minor situation. We need to think how God would like us to respond to something, not putting ourselves above Him. I had to also think of the background of the person wanting to take charge. As always, we need to think of what is beyond the eye of the beholder. There is a way to make everyone feel comfortable, yet get a point across. It is not always easy, yet we need to think of the feelings of one another. It may be an inconvenience to us, but to the other person, it is a problem. Without stepping out of our boundaries, with the help of God, we can come up with a solution. The secret knows God is living within us, of feeling how He would respond to the same problem. He would not want to embarrass anyone. He wants everyone to feel successful, to feel no shame. Is it easy? No, but we only have to listen to God. Let us respond to His wishes, not ours.
I often have to ask myself, “Is it an inconvenience, or is it a problem?” I call anything that is not terminal to my health an inconvenience. Yes, I have likely said this before. Yet, I continue to see others make inconveniences a problem. Just yesterday, I witnessed what was an inconvenience become a major problem. No, it was not going to be terminal to anyone, but I saw a will of the minds. I was asked to intervene. I did the best I could. To think we were in a Church situation, yet there was someone trying to overstep another, rather than thinking of the consequences. I had to silently laugh, over such a minor situation. We need to think how God would like us to respond to something, not putting ourselves above Him. I had to also think of the background of the person wanting to take charge. As always, we need to think of what is beyond the eye of the beholder. There is a way to make everyone feel comfortable, yet get a point across. It is not always easy, yet we need to think of the feelings of one another. It may be an inconvenience to us, but to the other person, it is a problem. Without stepping out of our boundaries, with the help of God, we can come up with a solution. The secret knows God is living within us, of feeling how He would respond to the same problem. He would not want to embarrass anyone. He wants everyone to feel successful, to feel no shame. Is it easy? No, but we only have to listen to God. Let us respond to His wishes, not ours.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
NICOLAS
Many of you have heard me talk about Nicolas, the 17 year old who was in a snowboarding accident, leaving him in a coma. You all have prayed for him and have continued to think about him, asking how he is. Just tonight, he sent me a note, saying how much better he is, after telling him he must get depressed from time to time. He said he does not get depressed, but there are frustrating moments. What a gentle soul he is, to go through everything he has experienced and say he gets frustrated at times! At this stage in his life, he should be out building memories of being a high school senior. Instead, he is only trying to get back being at the level where he used to be. Think back to your teenage years. Can you imagine, having fun, enjoying school, doing fabulous artwork, and in the next second, all of this being taken away from you? No, I cannot imagine this!
Nicolas has made tremendous progress. He is doing schoolwork and converses beautifully. Yet, there are still missing parts. Though he may not feel he has patience, I see him being a perfect example of this virtue. We may think of patience as remaining happy as we wait in the grocery line. By the time we are home, with our goods put away, we forget all about that wait, as our minds divert to the next simple task facing us. Nicolas, on the other hand, has a long wait ahead. Yet, this delightful young man does not give up. He is living out this virtue. He knows it is a long haul to get back what he has lost; but he continues to climb this mountain, scattered with many obstacles.
We can learn from Nicolas. It does not matter that he may be younger we are. What matters is his strong faith in God. Through his faith, he knows he can meet each hurdle, gradually getting over it and moving on to the next hurdle.
Next time we have to wait in line somewhere, or did not make the green light while getting anxious to be reaching our destination, we need to think of Nicolas. He keeps hitting red lights on his journey, but he sits back and waits, knowing that green light will come.
Nicolas has made tremendous progress. He is doing schoolwork and converses beautifully. Yet, there are still missing parts. Though he may not feel he has patience, I see him being a perfect example of this virtue. We may think of patience as remaining happy as we wait in the grocery line. By the time we are home, with our goods put away, we forget all about that wait, as our minds divert to the next simple task facing us. Nicolas, on the other hand, has a long wait ahead. Yet, this delightful young man does not give up. He is living out this virtue. He knows it is a long haul to get back what he has lost; but he continues to climb this mountain, scattered with many obstacles.
We can learn from Nicolas. It does not matter that he may be younger we are. What matters is his strong faith in God. Through his faith, he knows he can meet each hurdle, gradually getting over it and moving on to the next hurdle.
Next time we have to wait in line somewhere, or did not make the green light while getting anxious to be reaching our destination, we need to think of Nicolas. He keeps hitting red lights on his journey, but he sits back and waits, knowing that green light will come.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Treating Others
I felt quite sad for my 18 year old daughter this afternoon. As president of her high school Key Club, she had asked her members to meet her at the nursing home, to play bingo with the seniors. Bingo is a very big thing with the elderly. They would love to play it all the time if they could.
Sadly, none of her members showed up. She waited one hour. It broke my heart. I was wondering if the members of this service club really joined to help others, or to add points to their resume for scholarships. It also made me sad, as the elderly seem to be forgotten in our society. They love to play bingo. They would play it all day long if they could. Yet, teens could not give up one hour of their time to make another generation happy.
In Matthew 7:12, we read how we are to treat others in the way we are to be treated, which is a law of Moses. I wonder how these teens would like to be treated as they get older; would they want to be treated as they had treated these seniors today? Let us not forget that God wants all of us to be treated with dignity. We are born in His image, all having His Spirit within us. Before we decide we don't have time to care for another, we need to ask ourselves if God would say He didn't have time for the elderly. No, he wouldn't say this, nor should we. All of us will become older one day; I wonder if we will be left alone, with others being to busy to visit or play bingo with us, or if they will remember the Golden Rule, stated in Matthew, to treat others as we would want to be treated.
The forgotten generation, those in nursing homes. Perhaps you can find an hour to run a bingo game, work on a jigsaw puzzle, or read to the elderly, who have lost their sight and can no longer read for themselves. Think about it. Maybe it is a way you will want to spend the Lenten season, extending your time beyond this season. After all, the elderly are there 365 days a year, not just at the holiday season.
Sadly, none of her members showed up. She waited one hour. It broke my heart. I was wondering if the members of this service club really joined to help others, or to add points to their resume for scholarships. It also made me sad, as the elderly seem to be forgotten in our society. They love to play bingo. They would play it all day long if they could. Yet, teens could not give up one hour of their time to make another generation happy.
In Matthew 7:12, we read how we are to treat others in the way we are to be treated, which is a law of Moses. I wonder how these teens would like to be treated as they get older; would they want to be treated as they had treated these seniors today? Let us not forget that God wants all of us to be treated with dignity. We are born in His image, all having His Spirit within us. Before we decide we don't have time to care for another, we need to ask ourselves if God would say He didn't have time for the elderly. No, he wouldn't say this, nor should we. All of us will become older one day; I wonder if we will be left alone, with others being to busy to visit or play bingo with us, or if they will remember the Golden Rule, stated in Matthew, to treat others as we would want to be treated.
The forgotten generation, those in nursing homes. Perhaps you can find an hour to run a bingo game, work on a jigsaw puzzle, or read to the elderly, who have lost their sight and can no longer read for themselves. Think about it. Maybe it is a way you will want to spend the Lenten season, extending your time beyond this season. After all, the elderly are there 365 days a year, not just at the holiday season.
Laughing at the Smallest of Things
I got an e-mail today, which got me laughing. It wasn’t just a smile, it was out loud laughter. We tend to take life seriously so often, forgetting the lighter things of life. What was so funny about this e-mail was that it wasn’t a joke, but truly a realistic scene. As I responded to this e-mail, it reminded me of a time in my life. This brought more laughter. So often, we look at the serious issues in life. We forget how important laughter is. I showed my husband the e-mail I had received earlier In the day, and he, too, broke out into laughter. He had come into our living room a bit stressed from the day, but he couldn’t help but laugh, out loud, when he saw the e-mail.
I responded to this e-mail with a story of my own, which brought more laughter. How often do we forget to laugh, only looking at the serious things in life! I love to laugh: it is a great way to think about what is happening in the moment. I don’t intentionally plan a piece of humor, it just happens. It must be a gift from God, to enjoy the lighter part of life.
Others have asked me how I can laugh when my own health isn’t the best. I say it is a blessing from God. I love to laugh and I love to share a personal experience with others, which cannot help but bring laughter, My life is one of the unexpected. This has been true since junior high. It is great to greet what happens with a sense of humor. I remember sharing with someone I had hardly knew no more than a day, “You won’t believe what happened to me once..., “ she burst into laughter, saying she would believe anything I was about to say. It is a great approach to life; instead of saying ‘oh no…,’ you say, ‘oh, well…”
No, life isn’t always full of laughter. But, those little things in life can bring us a smile instead of a frown. We can only picture Christ, imagining His smile, rather than a frown, as we work through our tiny hurdles in life!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Jacob and the Lentils
In Genesis 25:34, we read how Jacob gave his brother Esau bread and lentil stew. In return, Esau gave up his rights of being the first born, passing the rights on to his twin. After reading this passage to a church group, I left that day, deciding I would make lentil stew for dinner. Take into mind I had never made it before. But, it sounded delicious for a cold, winter day. For some reason, I had dried lentils in my pantry, buying them recently, on a whim. I managed to pull out some brown rice from the same pantry, moving on to the frig to see what vegetables I had. I found celery, carrots, parsley, red onion and garlic.
I put on my pot of water, adding kosher salt, rosemary, oregano, dill seed and some Italian seasoning. As it began to boil, I added my lentils. Living at an altitude of 7,000 feet, I knew it would take at least 45 minutes for the dried beans to cook. Fifteen minutes later, I added the brown rice and my veggies from the frig, diced up just so.
Soon, wonderful aromas emerged from the kitchen. Because flour tortillas are a staple in our home, they were placed on the table, beside each bowl of the scrumptious stew. The dinner blessing was said, and soon the meal was devoured. I was told by the family I could serve it again anytime (Sometimes I'm not given such a positive message!).
Now that it is the Lenten season, I realize this is the perfect Friday meal. What a history lentils have, going back to the beginning of man. God provided for those living near the start of creation and He provides for us now. He nourishes us not only with food from the soil, but with His love, His care and His Spirit. May we continue to count our daily blessings for all He has given us.
I put on my pot of water, adding kosher salt, rosemary, oregano, dill seed and some Italian seasoning. As it began to boil, I added my lentils. Living at an altitude of 7,000 feet, I knew it would take at least 45 minutes for the dried beans to cook. Fifteen minutes later, I added the brown rice and my veggies from the frig, diced up just so.
Soon, wonderful aromas emerged from the kitchen. Because flour tortillas are a staple in our home, they were placed on the table, beside each bowl of the scrumptious stew. The dinner blessing was said, and soon the meal was devoured. I was told by the family I could serve it again anytime (Sometimes I'm not given such a positive message!).
Now that it is the Lenten season, I realize this is the perfect Friday meal. What a history lentils have, going back to the beginning of man. God provided for those living near the start of creation and He provides for us now. He nourishes us not only with food from the soil, but with His love, His care and His Spirit. May we continue to count our daily blessings for all He has given us.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A Similarity
In a discussion I was having through a recent on-line class, there was mention of the disaster on September 11, 2001. We all continue to mourn the loss of thousands, yet the feelings are different for the families and friends whom knew someone that passed away. To witness such atrocities that day changed lives forever. Families were broken apart, friendships were severed, and tears remain to be shed. Being thousands of miles from the scene, many of us understand it was a heinous act. But we really can't understand the daily fear of the people who live where the tragedies occurred. We never cease to pray for those affected, offering our sympathy. What suffering there has been, anger being taken out upon the innocent. The impact of the devastating actions on that particular Tuesday have never left our minds. We will never forget those who died.
While having thoughts of this enormous loss in my mind, I suddenly had an image of the Crucifixion. I noticed the similarities between these two events. Anger resulted in the death of the innocent. There was tremendous suffering, changing the lives of many. And, though we were not there to witness the death of Jesus, we do know there was great sadness that day. We were not present at the Crucifixion, but its occurrence continues to leave a tremendous impact upon everyone. It has never left our minds what happened on that particular Friday. We persist in praying to Jesus for His suffering, telling Him we will never forget the day He died.
One of the last words of Jesus was, “Father, into Thy hands I commend my Spirit (Luke 23:46).”
May those left behind after the catastrophe on September 11 feel comforted, knowing their joyous spirits now reside with God. May you feel their light, resting within the light of God, being part of all our days. In the darkness, there is always this flame of light, giving us the warmth of His comfort and love, as His Spirit dwells within us.
While having thoughts of this enormous loss in my mind, I suddenly had an image of the Crucifixion. I noticed the similarities between these two events. Anger resulted in the death of the innocent. There was tremendous suffering, changing the lives of many. And, though we were not there to witness the death of Jesus, we do know there was great sadness that day. We were not present at the Crucifixion, but its occurrence continues to leave a tremendous impact upon everyone. It has never left our minds what happened on that particular Friday. We persist in praying to Jesus for His suffering, telling Him we will never forget the day He died.
One of the last words of Jesus was, “Father, into Thy hands I commend my Spirit (Luke 23:46).”
May those left behind after the catastrophe on September 11 feel comforted, knowing their joyous spirits now reside with God. May you feel their light, resting within the light of God, being part of all our days. In the darkness, there is always this flame of light, giving us the warmth of His comfort and love, as His Spirit dwells within us.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
BIRTHDAY
Today is the 18th birthday of my third and youngest child. Wow! Eighteen! Last night, she was teasing me that since she will be 18, she will go get tattoos and body piercings. As I screamed in horror, she was giving me her big smile.
It is wonderful to have a tight bond with her. She has the same bond with my husband, her dad. As we visited with one another in the living room last night, I couldn't help but think back to the day she was born and the days leading up to her birth. Three months prior to her birthday, I was on bed rest, only being allowed to raise my head by two pillows. Sitting on the bed with me each day were my five year old son and three year old daughter. It was a wonderful time. I could turn on my side, meaning we played many a card and board game. I read them stories and they drew me pictures. It was one of the nicest times in my life. A 'mom' usually has to be cleaning, cooking and doing laundry, throwing in some quality time with the children. Now, I could have quality time with them all day long. What fun we had!
But, at the end of these three months, things took a precarious turn. I was rushed by air ambulance to a hospital in another city, where there would be the medical facilities to treat a premature baby. You see, she would be arriving eight weeks early, and her lungs were not yet developed. We would soon find out there many other complications from arriving early.
She arrived, weighing in at 4 lbs 4 oz. We were thrilled at the weight, which was a plus for her, as well as being a female. The neonatal doctor said the female is a stronger fighter than the male, even from the start! We didn't know, though, from one hour to the next, what condition she would be in. It was a rough five week hospital stay. We brought her home, earlier than the doctors wanted, but the insurance representatives wanted her home. It's funny how they get to make the decisions, isn't it.
Her big brother and sister were delighted to meet her, as they had not been allowed into the neonatal intensive care unit. It was a beautiful homecoming.
During her first year, she had a heart monitor and medications every three hours. She remained tiny, going through months of pain. Once, she cried for 19 straight hours. I never let her out of my arms, trying to soothe her. She cried the next day, too, but she had laryngitis. I continued to hold her next to my heart.
Months turned into years. She continued to prosper, enjoying her physical, occupational and speech therapies. She remained a shy little girl, having a nice group of friends, writing stories which made her teachers think she would be a great author one day. Each wanted to keep an original writing so they could show it to others, saying they knew her when...
She remained to be my shy child, smiling with her big eyes to others, but not speaking. Even to her own family, she spoke with the quietest voice. At age 16, she surprised us by saying she planned to join the teen choir at Church. As she went to her first practice, I sat in the Church, my head down in prayer. Suddenly, I heard a voice which sent shivers down my spine and goosebumps down my arms. My eyes watered, as I said to myself that what I was hearing was the most beautiful voice I had ever heard. Imagine my surprise to see it was my daughter, as I looked up from prayer!
My teen had blossomed into such a spiritual being. Her shyness disappeared. She asked three different churches if she could teach in their Vacation Bible School programs over the summer. At the Children's Museum, she asked if she could also volunteer, which led into a job down the road. She joined the swim team and Key Club, becoming its president. She became involved in another sacred choir and school music productions. God has taken good care of her.
I know none of this would have happened if it weren't for God. He became present in her little soul from the moment she began her life within me. He has carried her through the struggles, the pain, the joys and through all she has wanted to do in her life. He heard everyone asking for His help as she began her fragile life. Hope was always there. Hope does not disappoint us, just as Romans 5:3-5 says, as the love and Spirit of God will endure forever. Thank you, God, for giving me your hope and love, even when I couldn't see the light.
It is wonderful to have a tight bond with her. She has the same bond with my husband, her dad. As we visited with one another in the living room last night, I couldn't help but think back to the day she was born and the days leading up to her birth. Three months prior to her birthday, I was on bed rest, only being allowed to raise my head by two pillows. Sitting on the bed with me each day were my five year old son and three year old daughter. It was a wonderful time. I could turn on my side, meaning we played many a card and board game. I read them stories and they drew me pictures. It was one of the nicest times in my life. A 'mom' usually has to be cleaning, cooking and doing laundry, throwing in some quality time with the children. Now, I could have quality time with them all day long. What fun we had!
But, at the end of these three months, things took a precarious turn. I was rushed by air ambulance to a hospital in another city, where there would be the medical facilities to treat a premature baby. You see, she would be arriving eight weeks early, and her lungs were not yet developed. We would soon find out there many other complications from arriving early.
She arrived, weighing in at 4 lbs 4 oz. We were thrilled at the weight, which was a plus for her, as well as being a female. The neonatal doctor said the female is a stronger fighter than the male, even from the start! We didn't know, though, from one hour to the next, what condition she would be in. It was a rough five week hospital stay. We brought her home, earlier than the doctors wanted, but the insurance representatives wanted her home. It's funny how they get to make the decisions, isn't it.
Her big brother and sister were delighted to meet her, as they had not been allowed into the neonatal intensive care unit. It was a beautiful homecoming.
During her first year, she had a heart monitor and medications every three hours. She remained tiny, going through months of pain. Once, she cried for 19 straight hours. I never let her out of my arms, trying to soothe her. She cried the next day, too, but she had laryngitis. I continued to hold her next to my heart.
Months turned into years. She continued to prosper, enjoying her physical, occupational and speech therapies. She remained a shy little girl, having a nice group of friends, writing stories which made her teachers think she would be a great author one day. Each wanted to keep an original writing so they could show it to others, saying they knew her when...
She remained to be my shy child, smiling with her big eyes to others, but not speaking. Even to her own family, she spoke with the quietest voice. At age 16, she surprised us by saying she planned to join the teen choir at Church. As she went to her first practice, I sat in the Church, my head down in prayer. Suddenly, I heard a voice which sent shivers down my spine and goosebumps down my arms. My eyes watered, as I said to myself that what I was hearing was the most beautiful voice I had ever heard. Imagine my surprise to see it was my daughter, as I looked up from prayer!
My teen had blossomed into such a spiritual being. Her shyness disappeared. She asked three different churches if she could teach in their Vacation Bible School programs over the summer. At the Children's Museum, she asked if she could also volunteer, which led into a job down the road. She joined the swim team and Key Club, becoming its president. She became involved in another sacred choir and school music productions. God has taken good care of her.
I know none of this would have happened if it weren't for God. He became present in her little soul from the moment she began her life within me. He has carried her through the struggles, the pain, the joys and through all she has wanted to do in her life. He heard everyone asking for His help as she began her fragile life. Hope was always there. Hope does not disappoint us, just as Romans 5:3-5 says, as the love and Spirit of God will endure forever. Thank you, God, for giving me your hope and love, even when I couldn't see the light.
Friday, January 29, 2010
How to Learn From A Butterfly
I happened to catch a show on PBS tonight, on the monarch butterfly. What a magnificent creature! More magnificent was the journey taken, from Canada to Mexico, covering 2,000 miles each fall and spring. The concept of migration has always fascinated me. I had not thought of the tiny butterfly going on such a long expedition. Yet, tens of thousands take the trip each year. It isn't an easy excursion. There is the weather and there is the harm given by man. Little did I know that while resting on a leaf among the crops, the monarch would meet its fate as the crop plane flew by. Spewing a spray among the crops, this beautifully winged being does not have a chance.
The monarchs do not stop. All along the way there will be obstacles. Yet, they carry on. Humans following the journey are amazed how nothing stops them. There is even a monumental range of mountains in Mexico they must encounter before they can reach their resting place.
Nearly two months later, they reach their destination. They do not understand what it means for them to arrive at this village. The people residing there are quite poor. Just as the farmers depend on crops for their livelihood, the villagers depend on this majestic being for theirs. Unbeknown to them, fireworks, food and drink provide a welcoming celebration. From the tiny booths, there are tee shirts and tote bags for sale, with the monarch being the celebrity.
It is interesting to observe God's role in all of this. In his mysterious ways, He tells the butterflies it is time to migrate. He leads them through terrific hardships, yet they keep moving. They don't have the capacity to think, “Should I or shouldn't I?”. They just go for it.
Maybe we can take a lesson from them. We get worried, what we should do next. We need to leave it in God's hands, as the butterflies do. They survive, bringing in the next generation of brilliant monarchs, coming to life all along the way as they return to Canada. We could also survive, if only we would give God the chance.
Being human, we have the tendency to question our actions, deciding what would be best for us. But as the butterfly, we should turn to God, having His will take care of us. It would bring less stress, replaced with joy. Leaving it in God's hands may bring us unexpected
bliss. Next time, think of the mindless butterfly, bringing beauty and joy, just as God can. Pray to Him, helping you let go of your boundaries. Letting go and letting God take over isn't easy, but it may bring unexpected surprises, filled with comfort and delight. May God bless you as you learn to spread your wings!
The monarchs do not stop. All along the way there will be obstacles. Yet, they carry on. Humans following the journey are amazed how nothing stops them. There is even a monumental range of mountains in Mexico they must encounter before they can reach their resting place.
Nearly two months later, they reach their destination. They do not understand what it means for them to arrive at this village. The people residing there are quite poor. Just as the farmers depend on crops for their livelihood, the villagers depend on this majestic being for theirs. Unbeknown to them, fireworks, food and drink provide a welcoming celebration. From the tiny booths, there are tee shirts and tote bags for sale, with the monarch being the celebrity.
It is interesting to observe God's role in all of this. In his mysterious ways, He tells the butterflies it is time to migrate. He leads them through terrific hardships, yet they keep moving. They don't have the capacity to think, “Should I or shouldn't I?”. They just go for it.
Maybe we can take a lesson from them. We get worried, what we should do next. We need to leave it in God's hands, as the butterflies do. They survive, bringing in the next generation of brilliant monarchs, coming to life all along the way as they return to Canada. We could also survive, if only we would give God the chance.
Being human, we have the tendency to question our actions, deciding what would be best for us. But as the butterfly, we should turn to God, having His will take care of us. It would bring less stress, replaced with joy. Leaving it in God's hands may bring us unexpected
bliss. Next time, think of the mindless butterfly, bringing beauty and joy, just as God can. Pray to Him, helping you let go of your boundaries. Letting go and letting God take over isn't easy, but it may bring unexpected surprises, filled with comfort and delight. May God bless you as you learn to spread your wings!
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