Pat and I attended a family wedding with 2 grandkids in tow, and met our youngest one, Augustine, there as his parents came down from the Cities. We had a wonderful time just enjoying our precious little ones, and when they needed to sleep at bedtime...we cuddled them and kept watch over them. It was all we really cared to do! We were happy and content. Today being the feastday of St Monica - the mother of St Augustine ( his feastday is tomorrow, and that seems so appropriate in that he owes his conversion to the prayers of his mother!) I am deeply touched by the few dances I got later with John.
The joys of Pat's life at this stage is truly and without reservation - His grandkids! If they are a part of the mix - he will wholeheartedly make a way to be there! Sometimes the farm won't allow it, but he will make every attempt to be where they are and spending time with family is what gives him the most happiness, and when he is happy and excited to do something - so am I! After we had sent our grandkids off with love to the Cities, I had a chance to dance with my son, John! How wonderful was that? It was to the point that I get teary thinking about it!
Dancing in the circle with John and some of my siblings to some "soul music" - it doesn't get any better than that! Then a slow dance, and John voiced to me his appreciation for all the ways that I have shown him love over the last 2 years and our united fight against a sudden discovery of John's brain cancer..."You show me so much love, mom, and I don't show you that much in return." I had to point out to him that his willing and cheerful attitude to come home and help his dad and I when he can, and his great attitude as we faced the stresses of going to France for a week... that means the world to me and shows me how much he is appreciative and willing to show his love in a very real way! A way that has given me so much help in dealing with the day to day stresses of family life on the farm in the midst of a busy and challanging summer. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, John! You have shown your love in a real and much appreciated way!
I know that much of what John remembers is the physical things that I did for him, but the underlying prayers kept us from being too overwhelmed and gave us the strength to face all that came with this cancer with trust and hope and determination! I have always felt that my foremost job is that of being a mother and although they are grown and gone - I take my vocation as a mother, who is praying for all of my children, children in law, and grandchildren. I feel this is the most important thing that I do each and every day! I see the results and hear the appreciation from my children - knowing that they are surrounded by my prayers - no matter what they face!
Dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ... we love you and thank you for the joy of prayer and the power of prayer. The wonder of sharing with you in this profound and personal way gives us all that we need to go forth into all that life holds for us in our families. Thank you for the miracles we see around us as a result of prayers. They make us always know in our hearts,minds and souls that you are a loving and forgiving God - always walking with us or carrying us when we are weak. We praise you and glorify you now and forever! Jesus, we trust in you... we look to your mother and other saintly mothers - like St Monica - to see how we are to love our children and give them over to YOU! Amen and Halleluia!
Bless-bless, Barb
"What a lioness was your mother, a lion of lions! Among young lions she couched to rear her whelps. One whelp she raised up, a young lion he became."
Ezekiel 19: 2-3
"Give her reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates." Prv 31:31
"Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the fruit of her womb? Even should she forget , I will never forget you."
Isaiah 49: 15
Isaiah 49: 15
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