Mary is aglow in her blue apron and helping with washing dishes at The Little Monastery -Lumen Christi/Light of Christ. In their poverty they do not have running hot water, and must heat it on the stove for dishes done by hand. They also are very generous with their table settings for meals with numerous dishes and silver and always using up their left overs with numerous pans and pots, so dishes seems to be an endless job.
Mary had on new sandals and her Easter dress and got tired feet after a while. As Hallel says there are dishes to do all the time - "You do the dishes as you are preparing the meal and then after it is eaten and then start with the next one. This is a large family with 10 sisters plus us visitors... so it is a big and ongoing job. Dishes and prayer seems to be the biggest part of their days. Along with that add the day to day dynamics of living in community/family closeness. It is easy to see that just like all families there would be the storms of life that would get choppy and we could begin to "be afraid." Afraid that we don't have the grace to put up with the frustrations and the tossing about as the sea of life around us pushes us this way and that. From the Gospel today we see Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, "It is I. Do not be afraid." John 6 As I wrote where in John this Gospel is from, I suddenly got very excited to think that we are in John 6! Anticipating what is coming later in the chapter! The Eucharistic chapter... where Jesus tells us to take and eat His Body and Blood! That is where we find the strength and that is where we take him into our storms of life and find peace and the ability to go on!
Rose is off somewhere, but they caught these 4 at least to pose with Hallel.
A selfie with mom and Hallel... I am working on Mary's birthday pictures as I write this today.
I have a frame with 8 photos that I change for each kid each year at birthday time... This is one for this year!
Michigan minus dads and Romeo...
I think I can come up with 8 for her 9th birthday out of these. And now have lost my train of thought of Jesus always being with us in the storms of life. I have just been out to help Pat pull a backwards calf out of a very young first calf heifer. The calf was backwards and came out quick and easy as I was saying "Hail Marys" out loud. We both thanked Our Lady on this her special day - each Saturday is devoted to the Mother of God! "Boy that was easy," said Pat. "Our Lady was with us helping us." Throughout her life, Mary emptied herself of every shred of even sinless self-interest. Filled instead with the presence of God. the water of life from the fountain of salvation, she was free to offer her Son to the Father on the cross and to sing with JOY in his Resurrection. see www.magnificat.com
Jesus, we thank and praise you for giving us so much help on our journey - when the storms hit we are afraid and look to you for assistance. When we are weak is when we turn to you. May we always give our all without counting the cost in the example of your wonderful mother. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Danielle Rose - True LOVE
Casting Crowns - Praise you in the storm
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