Today is the red letter day that sends chills down the spines of John's family, but of which John has no memory of at all! We knew that he was very sick, but knowing that he was not truly with us in mind makes us realize just how bad it was! The readings today were so amazing to us as it spoke of not our trust in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, but "He is unfailing, faithful, true; His trust is everlasting!" From the opening hymn in morning prayer... it resonated in me as I always end each prayer in "Jesus I trust in you!" To then hear that His trust is everlasting makes it take on the Wow factor! One more thought from morning prayer that I thought was amazing on this day...."God is true: he has a long memory for his own promises and a short memory for our failue to keep ours." (see http://www.magnificat.com/ )
It was a grand Hallel psalm today im morning prayer... Psalm 89.. Little Sister Hallel/Susan explained to us that the psalms of praise found in the middle of the psalms - around 100 - are called the "grand Hallel psalms" and the word for "grand" in French is the same as tall and she is very tall compaired to the small European Little Sisters in the community! Hallel gives them joy in many ways! Her name means praise and how she accomplishes that with her life as John prayed for her yesterday... is done in many ways... just by saying her name is a form of praise! She was here with us a year ago and very wonderful to her brother and a positive support to us as we gathered around John on this day! She spent the night with him and cared for his every need! Just as she came for a week and drove him to radiation for a week before Thanksgiving. How she has always loved and cared for her younger brother! When she called to say that she was leaving for France... he was the one that she asked to come and "say goodbye" to her. The tears flowed at adoration last night as I felt so sad at the loss of not having Susan/Hallel here to share with us in our day to day lives... yet I know that she is bringing much joy and praise of Him to the world in her vocation! It is definitely a sacrifice for her family, who loves her so much!
John continues to struggle with his ataxia on his left side as a result of the bleeding at the site where the brain biopsy was done a year ago today. I thought that this picture of Fr Craig annointing his hands during the annointing of the sick done just before he went to surgery... reminds us that the Lord is in control and as morning prayer reminded us that; "I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all the ages my mouth will proclaim your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts forever, and that your truth is firmly established as the heavens." Psalm 89... John and I go to meet with a chiropractor today and see if she can help him regain his mobility... Jesus we are reminded that we can totally trust in you.... Your trust is everlasting and you are in control!
How we cling to our faith and it was what we had to hold onto a year ago...on this anniversary Pat and I are preparing with prayer and many other odds and ends to serve as spiritual directors at TEC that starts in two days... We know that we are going to serve from a much deeper place than ever before after the experience of the last year. Yet we also are very aware that all of those coming for the weekend as well as all those that have faithfully followed us on this journey have their own crosses and how we long to listen with our hearts and our souls to them as they share with us! We have so much from our Church to help us on our journeys and as we look at Die day, Rise Day and Go Day and how it follows the Paschal Mystery of Christ and how our Church gives us reconcilliation, Eucharist and all the devotions to help us on our way! Thank you Holy Mother Church! You are amazing! You fed us and nourished us and comforted us and loved us as we struggled with such fear a year ago!
Dearest Lord and your Bride, the Church... we cannot begin to "know" all there is for us to grow in love and faith for you... we never can come to the end of our growth within your wonderful amazing Church... we are fed with the sacraments and learn and follow your example with the help of your wonderful Mother and all the saints! Thank you for all that we have received from your endless love and knowledge in the last year and to see John looking so wonderful with the light of love in his eye... a new compassion and depth thanks to the cross called cancer/healing in his life for the last year. Continue to walk with us of that we are without the least bit of doubt... Jesus we trust in you and your trust is everlasting in us! Amen and Halleluia! Bless-bless, Barb
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