Nancy and her two arrived last evening for most of the week. It is nice to wake up to their smiling faces and to see how much at home they are here. It also looks as though summer decided to come finally! The little plastic swimming pool will be out with the water warming in the sun here soo, and we will probably be heading over to Ruth's to have babies meet baby kitties -a grandma's photo dream shoot! I feel pleasantly tossed by the waves of LIFE as Ruth and her 4 were just here to share breakfast, and then off to swimming lessons. We will join them for lunch at their house, and see the baby kitties then. The kitties are helping the pain and loss of finding their cat - Patches dead on the gravel road yesterday on their way to Church. Such is life - the ups and the downs - the good and the bad- the LIFE and the death.
Sweet Bernadette is back on the farm with her mom this time! Gus acted as though he wanted his mom to know that she should not leave him this time, but stay here with him. Nancy assured him - "Mom is not going to leave this time, Gus."
Today's Gospel is there to remind us of how far we are from being the Christians that we are called to be by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! To those that are the closest to us in our domestic Church/family this Gospel is truly put to the test and we fail so often..."I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well...Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow." These words from our Lord to us just seems so contrary to the way that we live our lives.... especially with those that are the closest to us. I think of when Pat asks me to come out and help him... I begrudgingly help him and leave as soon as he tells me I am done. Do I ask if there is something else I can do for him? Not usually or hardly ever. How much happier would he be, if I had a better attitude to start with and then if I went the extra mile and offered to help over and above? Life would be better for both of us, but it is so hard! There is so much in these words from our Lord, and it is so contrary to how we deal with one another. How do we lose sight of this giving without counting the cost and think that if someone wrongs us that we are justified to retaliate or to certainly not take any more from them - much less turn the other cheek to take more blows!
Early morning work on the tractor - now Pat is out mowing, and Gus in outside playing in the summer sun.
It always saddens me when someone talks with great anger about a situation with family of friends that they are not talking to, or how they feel justified to hold a grudge against someone with great venom! Yet, am I any better than them? I certainly have far to go to live out this Gospel. Well, I am going out to pray the morning office with Nancy and John outside on this glorious day.
Lord, help us to live more according to your Word of Truth - giving without counting the cost. May we turn the other cheek this day, and go the extra mile. Jesus, give us the strength to love and follow after YOU carrying our Most Cherished Cross and going down the narrow path to LIFE/LOVE/LIFE! Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
"A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path." Halleluia, halleluia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpNcOjxZsWE Casting Crowns - Glorious day
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