How I love to spend a brief time at breakfast with my husband and son sharing morning prayer! (see www.magnificat.com) As I left here very early yesterday... it wasn't possible, but traveling through quiet early morning sun with my rosary traveling through my fingers as I traveled about 20 miles away to the nursing home... allowed me to find a place of peace to calm my fears and doubts. The words of Fr Jeremy was my guide through the day... "Just love them, Barb." It truly helped me to look outside of myself and the pressing need to get the meds passed! I would take the time to get a little visit in here and there and touch a shoulder or give a smile... it did help that the tendon in the back of my heel is healing and not so much of a constant reminder that I am old and out of shape for such a long day on my feet! But that was a good place to start and now it can only get better! I truly found a place of humility and I continued to ask for help with that spirit yesterday... I want to so badly do a good job for these people and most of all I do want to "just love them".
I had such a fun visit with a many years married couple that share a room at the nursing home... their two nursing home beds are charmingly pushed together... they have their little home within their room... They walk down the hall to meals and she takes his arm as they walk together. I walked in with some meds and he had a large envelope that came in the mail.. the converstion started when he asked me what the Ma stood for and I responded Massasschusetts. Then I told him that I had been born in Boston, Ma when my dad was in seminary... He then told me many fascinating facts about trains starting with a "chapel train" that used to go to towns and give church services along the railroad - he thought they were Baptist..."Later they took the chapel cars off the tracks and made them into churches in places." He then shared more interesting things about trains before he asked me about my dad being minister. That allowed me to share about our all becoming Catholic - All 13 of us back when I was 20yo. He then shared something that was very surprising... "I have always wanted to give the homily at mass." His wife with a big smile on her face said; "I have heard it all too many times." She said shaking her head with a sweet smile on her face. I then told him about TEC retreats where he could give a life talk at this Catholic retreat! "I want to do that!" he said. I would love to help him do that, and who knows... nothing is impossible with God! It was fun to share for a few minutes with this special couple. They seem to love to give each other some "raspberries" with loving smiles on their faces while they are saying things that takes years of being married to say...
Morning prayer was a gift! One thing that grabbed my attention right away was a reflection on how life can at times seem too short... we all have those in our lives and that we hear of that are called out of this world at a very young age! "God, who does see the works of his hands from the perspective of enduring love, clothes even the passing wildflowers with splendor. We may be but a breath, a puff of wind, a handful of dust - but the breath of life that animates us is the Spirit of God!" I just think that is so beautiful to ponder... especially with the accidental death of little Riley in the last few weeks. A beautiful precious little 4 year old that graced his family's lives for that short time, but God sees the reason he was here and the reason that he is now with Him! I was also very touched by the death of a little precious 4 1/2 month old, Madison VanLeeuwe... Her smiling face was with her obituary ...such a powerful tribute to how she touched and changed her world:
"In her short, extraordinary life, she accomplished many things and touched countless people... She will be remembered for her bright blue eyes, beautiful long eyelashes, wonderful smile and precious baby sounds and actions. Some of her most important achievements were her unending strength, unconditional love, and strong abilities to bring people together." Her family writes; "We are thankful to have been blessed by you Madison, our Christmas gift (born on Christmas day 09), who has given so much. You will be deeply missed and never forgotten."
Such a short life in the eyes of many, but forever changing and touching all those that knew her and loved her and all of us as well that have been praying for her or just see her wonderful sweet face smiling in the paper and read about how she was a gift to the world in the ways that she "initiated many ground breaking treatments". It is a mystery how God works... I know with our 20 year old son, John... he had been making the comments for quite a few years - that he felt nothing when it came to his faith..."I have had no challanges in my life.. to make me need my faith or to rely on my faith." I think that after the last 11 months dealing with brain cancer - that is no longer the case. How wonderful to hear him pray that the Lord continue to heal him and lead him on the path into the future that He has just for John Patrick Agustine Verly with His loving and forgiving Lord and Saviour at John's side!
I will end today with the reading from Morning prayer from the book of Sirach 33:10-11,13
"So too, all men are of clay, for from earth man was formed; Yet with his great knowledge the Lord makes men unlike; in different paths he has them walk. Like clay in the hands of the potter, to be molded according to his pleasure, so are men in the hands of their Creator, to be assigned by him their function."
"You are precious in my eyes." (Is 43:4)
Dearest loving Father... you take such loving personal interest in each one of your creation! Thank you and allow us to humble and willing to follow your path for us as it leads us forward to Heaven! Jesus we trust in you! Amen and Halleuia! Bless-bless, Barb
I will try to scan the picture of little Madison - such a precious gift of joy and love! Also some older scanned pictures of Easter Sunday in 1990 and me with my first daughter, Ruth. As mothers we all know that we have them for an uncertain amount of time... Life is a gift yet passing... My heartfelt sypathy to a young couple that just experienced a mischarriage... It is so hard as you are already building a relationship with that little one - as soon as you know that it is growing inside and so wanted and loved! My deepest sympathy to you!
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