"Thank you, Lord, for all you give to me, and take away from me." John Verly at morning prayer

I love this reflection picture of my mother-in-law with 2 of her daughters kneeling at her side yesterday... behind her are her parents, her wedding picture and her son, Don, who is gone about 22 years already.  On her dresser is Our Lady and Jesus with his merciful heart looks on from the side, and also the rosaries hanging on her mirror, with some beautiful roses that were brought to her by someone to show their love and care for this great woman of God and promoter of Family!  You need only walk into this room to recognize her values are Faith and Family - all that really matters in this world after all!

I traveled along with Pat yesterday as he went to Watertown, SD to pick up a gate and a calf shelter.  WE used our Cow TV on our phone and, of course, shared the rosary - praying a decade together for a dear friend, who is facing cancer surgery today.  A prayer John shared with us at breakfast just grabbed me and continues to echo in my head, heart, and soul over and over..."Thank you, Lord, for all you give to me and all you take away from me."  This speaks volumes of the journey John has been through with his brain cancer, and the left side which still has some residual ataxia from his biopsy, the jobs that he has gone through - gotten and then lost for one reason or another, a wonderful girl friend come and gone, and so many ups and downs along the way.  John even thanks God for his brain cancer which brought him to find Faith!  http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html

Luke in his cute monkey jammie the other night when we were watching him as mom and dad taught Faith Formation.  We decided some years back that we needed to watch our grandkids so that Ruth and Paul can teach and share their message to the youth that we need to uphold the Sacrament of Marriage between one man and one woman, be open to LIFE within the bonds of marriage, and raise LIGHTS for this world of darkness, sin and death.  Yes, in doing this we allow God to take away from us our selfishness and freedom (?) to do all that pleases us... but isn't that something to rejoice at as it is what Jesus asks of us - to die to self and take up our cross and follow after Him?  Yes!!!

Mom eating her breakfast in her sun room yesterday.

Of course, the words from John's prayer brings to the surface much that I have gained and lost in my journey... foremost are my children - I am so blessed to have 5 wonderful faith-filled children that lead me ever deeper into my Faith in The Church, and I have 7 in heaven that are praying for me and awaiting our being reunited someday.  It was hard for me to thank God for those losses in the midst of the pain and loss, but now I can see that they keep my eyes on heaven and that is huge as I struggle with my weaknesses here on earth.  I am reminded of a most beautiful story that one of my sister-in-laws shared with her mother a few weeks ago.  "Mom, I have something to tell you.  When I had my 3rd miscarriage and the D and C was done - I would take a box of Kleenex, my Bible, and my phone into my bedroom the next day.  I would call people to let them know that I had lost the baby, and I would cry and work through my grief reading the Word of God.  When I called you, mom, you told me that I should get down on my knees and thank God for this.  Well, I said that I would, but hung up feeling that was a bit much and harsh to ask me to do.  The day went by and later on I just felt terrible and was not coming to any kind of a good place with my pain.  So I said to myself - 'Alright, I will do what mom suggested.  It can't hurt any worse than it already does.'  So I got down on my knees and thanked God for my loss, and it really did help me!  I have shared this story with many over the years, and feel that it was a most powerful lesson I have learned about thanking God for the good and the bad." 

A special moment shared... 

Lord, there is so much to learn as we are called to embrace our Most Cherished Cross and through our hurt, pain and suffering and dying to self we find LIFE everlasting, unconditional LOVE, and LIGHT to chase away the darkness and reveal the Truth to us.  From morning prayer this morning - see www.magnificat.com "From the depths of sin, of sorrow, of pain, we call with confidence upon the Lord, whose promise is life."  These words from 2 Peter also were very powerfully consoling to me this day - The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay," be he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  This gives me so much to pray for and hope for when we witness so many that are lost and struggling in the midst of sin and darkness and believing the lies of the culture of death.  Show us how to serve you and may we come to a place of peace and forgiveness with our brothers and sisters.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen ( I normally say "Hallelujah" here, but it is now lent so I will stop till Easter.  Then the Hallelujah will be that much more!!!!)

Reflection of LOVE.  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

 

I agree totally yet I know that I will meet my children, too! 

Reminding the words of Jesus that we need to be like a child!  Maybe that is why we see the face of Jesus in them - LIFE is a gift!

Lead me to the Cross - Francesca Battistelli

Danielle Rose - Give and Take

Saint of the Day! St. Gabriel Possenti
St. Gabriel Possenti (1838-1862), also known as St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, was born in Assisi, Italy, and one of 13 children. As a young man he enjoyed society and the worldly life of a teenager. He was known as a fancy dresser and a good dancer, he possessed good horsemanship and marksmanship, he frequented parties, and was even engaged to be married twice. After graduation he shocked everyone by announcing that he was going to... be a Passionist priest, having been inspired to his vocation by the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom his family had a great devotion. His life was then marked with prayer, sacrifice, and devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, taking the religious name Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother. He was stricken with tuberculosis about a year before he was to be ordained, and died at the age of 24. Many miracles were attributed to him after his death, including the healing of St. Gemma Galgani. St. Gabriel Possenti is the patron saint of Catholic youth, seminarians, clerics, students, and Catholic Action.

Hope you can read this beautiful prayer by today's Saint!