"yields fruit in due season"..."his persistence" Luke 11

 The dawning of another big day on the farm... those bales are all now in a precise stack in the yard thanks to the hard working famers.  Psalm 1 from mass today the verse about "yields fruit in due season" really is prevalent today with our harvest in it's midst!  The beans are out and 2 of our fields of corn!  After some key rains later in the summer, that we have missed in the last few years, it was a great crop for us, too! 

 Taken through  my dirty back window of the tractor just before I hooked up the bale rack... Luke rode along, belted into his seat by grandpa, for the entire afternoon.  He loves to watch the farming and that is the best seat ever! 

 The stacks I mentioned.. this will be bedding for the animals over the winter. 

Working with my husband.. I see how he works and works and fixes and manages and understands the complicated business of farming...  He is very persistent in all he does, and as a result he has been successful whether it is scraping the yard of raising cattle from beginning to end.  There is no cutting corners with him!  Jesus speaks today about those that are persistent in their prayers, and how when we do that...ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you... How much more will the Father give in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?  Luke 11  I know that this same persistence carries over to his prayer life, and when those times of need strike... he prays without ceasing while he is working hard and long.  He tells me that those formula prayers are constantly going through his heart, mind and soul!  He is my champion for LIFE - http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html  and my champion for feeding the world while providing for his family, and also lifting up prayers for the needs of all of us!  I remember well a young man named Patrick, who asked Pat to be his confirmation sponsor.  He prayed for Patrick for years!

 While Pat was unloading the bales from the wagon... I captured this wonderful sight of a cow out on the golden stalks in the field behind our house.

 Ruth and Paul bringing more home from about 10 miles away.

I am persistent in prayer, yet I do cut corners in other ways in my life.  I see in Pat's example that I should improve in my work ethic.  I do thank God each day that he has touched my life so powerfully and my husband and kids is enough to bring me to tears and to my knees!  I am so undeserving of them, and I am humbled by them.  Each day I ask to do better and Jesus just told me that I will receive!  I am hesitant to ask for increased humility - I will never forget when my mother sent me the Litany of Humility for the first time! " How can anyone pray for this?"  I thought to myself. 

Litany of Humility Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930), Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being loved... From the desire of being extolled ... From the desire of being honored ... From the desire of being praised ... From the desire of being preferred to others... From the desire of being consulted ... From the desire of being approved ... From the fear of being humiliated ... From the fear of being despised... From the fear of suffering rebukes ... From the fear of being calumniated ... From the fear of being forgotten ... From the fear of being ridiculed ... From the fear of being wronged ... From the fear of being suspected ... That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I ... That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease ... That others may be chosen and I set aside ... That others may be praised and I unnoticed ... That others may be preferred to me in everything... That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should

 A cool view of the calves in the barn when I parked the tractor yesterday.  Pat raised each one of these! 

Jesus, may we stay safe during this busy time on the farm.  Thank you for a good night's rest, prayer and breakfast with my farmer.  It is such a gift to have that in the midst of this harvest time of year!  We continue to ask, seek, and knock through persistent prayer and sacrifice - may we die to self so that you may live in us!  May we humbly approach you with the help and intercession of your wonderful Mother, Mary Most Holy.  You will not deny us our needs.   Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

The cows spread out on the field by our house last evening..."For the Lord watches over the way of the just."  Psalm 1 from mass today.   Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Shared yesterday with a friend suffering with cancer - how Bishop LeVoir wrote to us when John's cancer came roaring back through the chemo- "When in times of distress repeat these words - Jesus, I trust in you."  Giving it all to him has allowed us to go forward and find a place of peace.  St Faustina is there to help us find His Mercy!

Talk about being humble!  St Faustina assist me to come closer to Jesus by dying to self so that he may live and work through me!

Danielle Rose - The Litany of Humility

maybe if I sing it... it will be easier to ask for?  The Missionaries of Charity - Blessed Teresa's order pray this prayer each week!

Casting Crowns - Who am I?

I just had to share this wonderful work of LOVE/LIFE/LIGHT that a photographer did for this couple who had lost 5 through miscarriage! 

Talk about persistence - climbing the net with dad!

Therese turn!