And a Child Shall Lead......

With humble gratitude,
I reflect
on what a bumpy year this has been.
It began with the wounds of mourning the loss Andy with the first set of holidays.
The wounds were further assaulted with job losses, relationship changes, a traffic ticket, a war etc.

Through all of the worries, anxieties and sometimes even despair,
I forced on myself remembrance of those suffering far worse than I.
The people of Darfur, those in war torn countries, the hungry, those in intractable pain.
Most recently I heard a story of HIV positive Orphans in Vietnam who were denied
a much anticipated privilege of entering public school.
"I wanted to make friends," one child sadly stated.
A child wishing to make a friend in school- that can't happen?

A dear friend and her teenage daughter have met with some difficult changes this week.
I have held them constantly close in prayer. I asked for grace that in some way I be used as a vessel of comfort and light to them. I asked Andy in Heaven to pray and watch over this mother and daughter who were faithful to him in prayer while he lived with his illness.

Yesterday, I greeted the teenager with a hug- I asked God to relay all communication of heart that no words exist for.
I said,

"I've asked Andy to watch over you. It'll be OK. No one here has cancer."
And the beautiful girl replied in consolation to her mom,

"that's right mom, cancer would be a problem, this isn't a problem, it's a challenge,
we're going to be OK."

In seeking to be a vehicle of grace, grace was given to me through the mouth of a babe.
If she were my child, the pride of that moment would beat in my heart until the last breath.

Our Father in Heaven sent a smile of light upon us.
for she is His child and proud he must be.
No one on earth has suffered more than the One who leads us to the Father,
our savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
What have we to fear?
He's Always been Faithful to me.

Tomorrow is my birthday, I am blessed.
Once again, my cup runneth over.

Peace and All Good

Hear Me Now!

My soul is thirsting,
for you,
O Lord,
my God.

Offer it Up.

It sounds so trite,
yet truth be told,
it's really all you can do.
We all suffer.
Sometimes it's an actual physical ailment.
Sometimes it's a social ailment.
Sometimes it's a mental ailment.
As a God fearing woman ,
I assure you,
it is always a spiritual ailment.
In today's reading2 Cor 12:7-10,
St. Paul speaks of an evil,
a thorn in his side that is beating him.
He calls out to God three times for relief.
God replies,
"My grace shall suffice."
St. Paul rejoices that he may bind his suffering to that of Christ.
He is thankful for his suffering,
"for when in weakness, I am strong."
As for me,
I suffer in anxiety for the hardships of those I love.
I am learning to simply attend, and love, and bind my sufferings to those of Christ.
I must trust that the suffering of those whom I love is their opportunity for the
grace of binding suffering to the cross with the reward of all eternity in light.
How agonizing the suffering of Christ must have been for Mary.
Yet, in faith she attended to Him unto the end.
And so must I,
for when in weakness I am strong.
Almighty Father, grant me and mine faith and well being in this world, and eternity in joyful light at your footstool.
Amen.

I Will Come To You In the Silence

A few days before Ash Wednesday my car battery died.
When it was replaced, the radio and CD player did not work.
My television in my bedroom would only show a few stations.
The wireless on my lap top stopped working.
I prayed evening prayer and night prayer,
and some days morning prayer every day in Lent.
My heart found peace.
My Lord called me.
I rested in His embrace.
I was healed of my anxieties.
My Lord stayed near.
Amidst my wretchedness I found peace.
During Eastertime my car radio started working.
My television returned to normal and the wireless in my laptop resumed.
During the silence God caught my attention.
Amidst the noise I remain his faithful servant.
On this last day of Easter I bind every beat of my heart
to the Way, the Truth, and the Life,
my Savior,
my Lord,
my God for all of my days.
All Glory and Praise be Thine,
Forever and Ever,
Amen.

It is Good.

Shiny and red.
in one hand then the other.
High up to the light,
and
held in hand extended,
a pirouette on tippy toes.
Lying down see it upside down,
then right side up.
Hold it close.
Hold it far.
Hold it by the stem with your teeth.
Hold it for hours.
An apple.
Made by God,
it is a beauty to behold
as is the little blessing that beholds it.

Nobody does it Better...

than God!!!
God colored these eggs straight from the chicken!

He is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed!
Alleluia! Alleluia!



Happy Easter with Blessings of Peace and All Good.

My Head is Annointed with Oil

I Love oil.
Baby oil, lavender oil, olive oil- I love it all.
I love to rub oil on my skin and my feet.
It strengthens, it protects, it moisturizes and it heals.
I wasn't always always this way.
In fact, in my youth I couldn't stand the slightest oily feeling in my hands.
I started to warm to the notion of oil and skin in my early days as a nurse.
I loved giving patients back rubs with lotion as evening care.
It gave comfort.
Even as a spiritual neophyte, the human touch was sacramental for me.
When my babies were little,
I would rub oil on them in the tub after I had let all the water out.
Then I would wrap a towel around them and pat them dry.
They were so soft and smelled so nice.
I felt like God had left a few cherubs in my care.
I began to participate in a Bible study around the same time.
I loved the references to oil and anointing.
I contemplated the importance of caring for one's skin and feet in ancient times.
I loved the woman who broke the alabaster jar and poured oil on Jesus' head.
I would so have loved to have been her in that moment.
This past Christmastide I received a surprise package in the mail of body oils from my spirit sister. I was anointed in spirit and body.
I reflected on the paradox that as advanced as we have become,
the more we take our bodies and our health for granted.
Olive oil, flax, salt, water, wheat AND TOUCH -it was all very basic then.
And it still is.
God has provided for the ages.
And He will again.
Blessings of Peace to All.

A banquet is prepared, and my cup runneth over, my head is anointed with oil.