Sisters on the stairs framed in the railings smiling and bright eyed are a good place to start today. Morning prayer early in the hopes that Pat will greet the sun soon, and they will be able to start to plant the crops. It is a late start, and sitting here by the window it looks like the sun is trying, with all of its might, to burn through these pesky clouds. Morning prayer in our wonderful Magnificat - see www.magnificat.com just seems to fill me with wonder and awe as it speaks to me about the three Ls - LOVE/LIFE/LIGHT! Is is just me, or is that all that really matters, and is that the result of the Most Cherished Cross in our lives? I see LOVE/LIFE/LIGHT in every one of my family, as I gaze at them - yes, I do that with a camera lens maybe too often, but to me they are just something that I want to cherish always at each stage that they go through! Rose was so happy and fun yesterday, and when she climbed up the stairs and looked through the spindles - who could resist that? She filled me with LIGHT as she beamed at me with those new little teeth, and those bright brown eyes! She is so similar to my girls, and most especially her aunt Susan/Hallel! What JOY for me!
At mass yesterday - Simon started to get a bit excited and nervous as it came time for him to receive his second Communion. Paul talked to him about Jesus, and how special it was for him to receive HIM, and that he should be praying and concentrating really hard on the gift of His Body and Blood. Simon was very aware of this new important step he was taking in his faith life.
Last week for his first communion we had to sit away from Simon and his parents for the sake of seating, so it was interesting to watch his younger siblings very interested when Simon went forward and took Jesus for the first time in their presence! Such a powerful lesson for them, and makes them await with excitement and anticipation the day that they will be able to take Jesus in His Body and Blood!
It was so sweet to see them gather around him - asking him about the experience that he just had. They know that this is a special moment, and a time of growth in his faith life, and it appears as though Simon is wanting to share with them that it is indeed a good step of faith. It is as though the disciples were given the Holy Spirit to carry on after Christ was taken away from them, and armed with that they were able to mature in their faith and go forward as LIGHTS to the world. Simon now has started coming to the Banquet of LIFE, and is sharing that LIGHT with his siblings as they await their turn to come, and they hunger for that moment! It is good to be hungry as the food takes so wonderful after a fast!
Yes, Rose looks up to her next older brother, David, and his influence will be huge on her... is that a good thing? Yes, even with the silliness factor - David is very loving and caring, in a high energy sort of way, and the devotion that Rose has for him shows just how much all that love showered on her by Dave since day 1 has affected her!
Last night when David pushed her on the swing, or came over to where they were playing - she would just giggle with glee and crawled over to be closer to him, and then just beamed! She responds so joyfully to the LOVE he has showered upon her! I think that is kind of giving us an indication of the LIGHT that sparks as a result of LOVE, and starting with saying YES to LIFE! It is all so tied together, and really the whole concept of bringing LIGTHS into the world does not work without saying "Yes!" to LIFE, and then the LOVE is there to nurture and cherish that LIFE grows bigger with each new LIFE we are given. We need to respect and protect LIFE at all stages - from Conception to natural death- and then the fire of the Holy Spirit enkindles the LIGHT which we pray - "where we walk this day, may we bring LIGHT."
David pushing her gives her giggles and JOY!
Jesus, how we long to be LIGHTS to our world this day and always. We know that the darkness has become so dark through the culture of death. How can the lives of all these innocent little ones be taken? Lord, use us this day and forward to make a difference - save LIVES, O Lord! End the horror of abortion, may women considering it this day be shown that this is a LIFE to be cherished and protected no matter how small! Our Lady of Guadalupe we ask you to intercede - save those in harms way this day, so that the world may welcome more LIGTHS to show the Way, the Truth and the LIFE! Come Holy Spirit and give the fire we need to spread and share Your Truth with all those in our lives - especially those in our domestic Church/family! Protect Ruth and the baby,Lord, we know that you desire this new little LIFE to be a part of our family. Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
“Would that mortal men might know how wonderful is divine grace, how beautiful, how precious; what riches are hidden therein, what treasures, what joys, what delights. If they but knew, surely they would direct their energy with all care and diligence to procuring sufferings and afflictions for themselves. Instead of good fortune all men everywhere would seek out troubles, illness and suffering that they might obtain the inestimable treasure of grace. This is the final profit to be gained from patient endurance. No one would complain about the cross or about hardships coming seemingly by chance upon him, if he realized in what balance they are weighed before being distributed to men.” St Rose of Lima
Wow! She really understood the Cross, and the LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT found after we embrace the Most Cherished Cross in our lives! I am sure that our little Rose will find this Truth to be true too!
"When our Lord was going to leave the world and return to his Father, he called his disciples orphans; children, as it were, whom he had been rearing, who were still unable to direct themselves, and who were soon to lose their protector; but he said, 'I will not leave you comfortless orphans, I will come to you'; meaning to say, he would be their present all-sufficienct Guide, though he himself was away. And we know, from the sacred history, that when the Holy Spirit came,they ceased to be the defenseless children they had been before. He breathed into them a divine life, and gifted them with spiritual manhood, or perfection, as it is called in the Scripture. From that time forth, they put away childish things; they spoke, they understood, they thought, as those who had been taught to govern themselve; and who, having 'an unction from the Holy One, knew all things.' " Blessed John Henry Newmann (1890)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXp6xcY5IqU Casting Crowns - Glorious Day
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