I put little Rose's feet into the sun warmed water, but it was still kind of cold for her. Big sister,Mary, cradled her and sang to her, allowing her to be in the pool but not really. She was out to enjoy the day with her siblings! Today is Father's Day... I am off to work soon, but Ruth is having her dad for breakfast after mass at 8a. The kids used to make us breakfast in bed on Mother's day and Father's day... I think on those Sundays we would go to a later mass to allow them the time to make the little smokies, cut the strawberries, and lay out the special rolls on the plate. It was a really special time, with them all crawling on the bed with us for this shared fun and super special food! It is good that Ruth is honoring her dad in this way today. John will be there too, and Father's Day has become one of strong family memories when it comes to him... it is the day 3 years ago that we took him into the ER in Marshall that morning, for the double vision that had started the week before! We left there with the shock of knowing that there was something in his brain, and were to head to Sioux Falls!
The pyramid of bales that Grandpa has built this year to store his hay - the gravel is like a big sandbox to the kids. They loved to run and play in it! Our shock and fear was replaced with Courage at the point of calling little Sister Hallel in France to tell her of the news and to count on her prayers! She reminded us of the Gospel reading for that Father's Day - Jesus calms the storm - Mark 4: 35-41... "mom, this is the storm and Jesus is in control!" This immediately allowed us to, with every moment, put it in his hands and Trust! I would say that is a pretty good explanation of courage. Today's Gospel interestingly enough is directly in front of that in Mark - Mark 4: 26-34. It is about the Kingdom of God, and one of his planting the seed ones. "This is how it is with the Kingdom of God, it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yeilds fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, it wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come." Married to a farmer for close to 34 yrs this is so woven into the fabric of our lives - especially at this time of year as daily the seeds grow! There is much that farmers do know and do for the crops, but really so much depends on the rain and the weather- of which we have no control other than with lots of prayers! So much prayer is behind our crops each year. I have attended many masses just for rain here over the years! Many times that "million dollar rain" has come to us! We have also had hail destroy entire fields too! Once again today - if this were the Gospel - I think that Susan would remind us... that it is all in the Lord's hands, and with his seeds that were replanted in his stem cell transplant - that we must trust in the harvest- it is out of our control! All we can do is TRUST, and through Trust gain Courage in the face of all that comes to us!
Jesus, today in the Gospel you speak of the tiny seed that becomes the large "plant" - the mustard seed and resulting plant.."Once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade." How many times have we heard over the years that if we have the faith of a mustard seed? All we have to do is believe small and he will come to us so largely, and we can become warriors in the battle of LIFE! Yes, we realized that it was all in the Lord's hands 3 years ago, but we still kept forgetting and would worry or take it back upon ourselves... One thing I will say is that John seemed to be peaceful throughout it all - he sensed the amazing prayers that surrounded him from the beginning! He knew of the ways the Lord was directing his care. He went to France weeks after his diagnosis to be with his sister, Susan/Hallel, as she took the habit and changed her name with the Community of the Lamb! He visited the healing waters of Our Lady of Lourdes, while he was there, and felt her LOVE and concern! John was like a young David facing Goliath/cancer! It was a beautiful sight to behold, and the giant was killed! Such a day of celebration and rejoincing as he has entered his 2nd year of being cancer free! Jesus, we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia!
Bless-bless, Barb
"Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed , I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice."
Isaiah 41: 10
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