I borrowed this from Nancy's blog - http://thegreatgusadventure.blogspot.com/... How John loves his family and the new little ones give him much joy! Agustine's little hand on his chest and looking at Uncle Johnny with his big brown eyes and a smile on his lips... I see John melting in love for this new (9 months) member of our family. He spends time with Nancy and her family to fill that space in his life called family. He has shared that he yearns for that for himself, and even shocked his dad and I by telling us that this is his top priority in life... just when he is finishing school and a job for his future should have that place in most people's mind. We know that he is thinking and praying and going to job fairs and having interviews, but it was just interesting to hear him say that family is the most important thing in his life next to his faith and that the two are intertwined! I know for myself and the girls this was all true, but now from our son, with the weight of beating cancer and taking the position of providing for his future family to say the same thing... Wow! I do know that Pat was yearning for a Catholic family open to life and willing to embrace a life on the farm at John's age too! So maybe this is John being like his dad also, and not just like his mom and sisters! I guess he obtained his love of family and openness to life from all of his family! No wonder, and it is an amazing wish and heartfelt prayer!
Pat asked me out to help him yesterday, so I was armed with my camera for the long periods of time in between the actual helping that I did. He was too busy here to notice that I was capturing him at work, and now has somewhat learned to accept me doing this as part of my time outside. Pat was out early this morning with the sun to grind hay - the wind has finally gone down! Reading morning prayer by myself this morning... I found myself reading some of the great articles in the Magnificat - see http://www.magnificat.com/ In one I came across the idea of those that say to themselves, "I wish to be moderately good, and enjoy the occassional sight of God from afar, and otherwise go about my own business as I please." There is so much of this, and we even find this happening when we do not resist temptation and choose to sin. I will not spend time speaking to the negative of this, but rather speak about the beauty to be found in not going half way with our devotion and embracing the Most Cherished Cross in our lives and following Him and His marvelous example! We are so blessed to have Him speak to us daily in the Gospel and to reveal to us his Way, His Truth and His Life! Today He shares the parable of the vineyard and the landowner...speaking to the cheif priests - "The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit." Stressing to them that they will not recognize him as the Son of God, and will even put Him, who was without sin, to death. And that only those, who embrace his command to pick up their cross and follow after him will be able to bear that fruit to the world. And yes, there is tremendous JOY with the answering of that call!
In order to fully follow him we need the Holy Spirit's help dwelling within us, and giving us the gifts of the Spirit to become his voice and act in his Truth in this world! "The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are enumerated in Isaiah 11:2-3. They are present in their fullness in Jesus Christ but are found in all Christians who are in a state of grace. We receive them when we are infused with sanctifying grace, the life of God within us—as, for example, when we receive a sacrament worthily. As the current Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, "They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them." Infused with His gifts, we respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as if by instinct, the way Christ Himself would." Scott P Richert This is the opening paragraph on this site that I went to... http://catholicism.about.com/od/beliefsteachings/tp/Gifts_of_the_Holy_Spirit.htm
There is a gift by gift sharing that I will not share... Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, piety, fear of the Lord, and knowledge! Come Holy Spirit and fill me with the ability to deny myself and follow the amazing life-giving example of Christ! Jesus, we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, BarbPat just called and is coming in for a light breakfast and to pray together... so this is coming to a quick end today. Jesus, fill us with true joy as we deny ourselves and follow YOU - our Way, our Truth and our Life!
"If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him?" I John 3: 17
"The poor are those who stand in need of our love, our time, our interest, our concern." see http://www.magnificat.com/
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