I am in the midst of working on a talk I am giving at a retreat in a few weeks... Together Encounter Christ here in town at the Catholic School where Pat went with his siblings, our 5 kids attended and now Ruth and Paul's 6 kids are and will be attending! It is a gift to us to have a new TEC center right here in this most special place!
Hallel with her baby look alike in April of 2013 when Rose was almost a year old! Grandpa Pat calls her Susan all the time. I guess the 4th child will be Susan in his mind, but they do look a lot alike!
April of 2013 Hallel home and the girls with the 3... as babies together! Love the tabernacle in their midst!
The theme of my talk is the dying to self so that Christ can live in us and reach out and make a difference in the world of sin and darkness! One very real way to give of ourselves is to be open to life and serving our spouse and children selflessly. I was mentioning to Pat the motto of The Community of the Lamb/Hallel's order last night..."Wounded, I will not cease to love." When I say this I see the spotless Lamb submitting to it's death.
Pat brought me to reality when he asked me; "Do you do that?" He knows full well that I am not good at this in our marriage, and I said this..."I try to, but I am not very good at it."
Our 5 photo bombed by Big Dave and with the Crucifix behind almost 5 years ago...
Yes, the Cross comes to mind and heart when I deeply consider the words..."Wounded, I will not cease to love." Our example of Christ on the Cross is one of acceptance and concern for others and loving even as he hung there and suffered so excruciatingly! Why when we are hurt by those the closest to us do we immediately want to show that we are right and they are wrong? Why do we return hurtful comments and sulk? That certainly is not loving no matter what! It is so hard to do!
It is certainly not something I can share in my own life very well... Yes, my childbearing years were certainly hard and the Cross of LOSS filled it, which we shared as a family and it brought us to a very deep place of respect and love for one another and for ALL LIFE!
With grandma Ann almost 6 years ago... we miss her so much!
Nancy was just sharing that she is encouraging Bill to go to say his goodbyes to his grandfather, who is not doing well. "It was so important to me to be able to come up and hold grandma's hand and say goodbye to her. I loved her so much in my life, and I just had to make that effort!"
Trying to get the 3 together... kind of funny to see now!
Nancy drove up from KC with her kids to say goodbye to her beloved Grandma Ann! She needed to see her in this world one last time, and hold her hand and cry some tears!
Josephine with great-grandma, who loved all little ones with total love! She passed that on to my husband, who adores the little ones and is my champion for LIFE and raising them as LIGHTS!
I am excited to find some amazing examples among the Saints to help me share the beauty of lives lived for Christ! I also am digging into the Bible for some amazing stories of those whose lives were changed by their encounter with The Lord! I am thinking about The Prodigal Son, the paralytic, or the woman taken in adultery, or Mary Magdalene who washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair when she embraced his forgiveness of her sins!
John takes being a God Father seriously! Here he is with Josephine at Lumen Christi Monastery a year ago. Two of the newest granddaughters are his God children! Ruth's Joy and Nancy's Evangline, and add to that his Big David, and Reagan, plus Bobbi's Goddaughter... that makes 5 coming down the aisle in June! We kid 9 year old David, that he will be herding the little girls ahead of him. So fun to think about!
Yes, I am jumping all over the place today... sorry! One other thought that has come to me in preparing for this talk is how my daily rosary allows me to get close and personal with all that Jesus has done for me... God in the flesh, ministering to me in his life on earth, his death, his resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit to fill me and make me his hands and feet if only I will die to self and allow that to happen in me! Yes, meditating on the mysteries allows me to truly grasp that more and more and truly ask Mary to intercede for me to be more His!
Always Love Mary, Josephine! Your mom is very excited to help you find her in your life, and the wonderful gift we have in the rosary prayer each day!
Jesus, how we long to love and serve you... may our ears be opened to your Truth and our mouths speak clearly and powerfully without holding back as we are your instrument of evangelization!
"He put his finger into the man's ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
"Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!")
And immediately the man's ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly. " Mark 7/the Gospel today!
It was fun to read this as John is complaining about a plugged ear, and we shared this on his way out the door this morning. It is special when the Word speaks to us personally. How we love to share our Story of finding our faith and the hand of the Lord on our lives! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallalujah
So good and so powerful!!! How he longs to take to the road and share his healing and finding Faith through brain cancer! "Why was I spared? It must be to share my story!" John
Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke
When I ponder - "Wounded, I will not cease to love." It is most profound and hardest to live out in my marriage! How I need to do better with help from the Holy Spirit!
PRAYER FOR PEACE AND JOY IN FAMILY
Loving Heavenly Father,The Word of God says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds". Even now, we pray with one accord that You may pour Your divine peace in our family.
Lord, we b...elieve that You dwell in the high and holy place, with them who have a contrite and humble spirit. You have assured us that if two of us agree on earth concerning anything that we ask, it will be done. So we come to Your presence with all humility and with oneness of mind that You may dwell with us and be the Head of this family. Riches and honor, enduring riches and righteousness are with You, Lord.
Bless us with all abundance and joy. Be with us and guide us in all that we do. May Your name be glorified in our family, now and forever. Amen.
Loving Heavenly Father,The Word of God says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds". Even now, we pray with one accord that You may pour Your divine peace in our family.
Lord, we b...elieve that You dwell in the high and holy place, with them who have a contrite and humble spirit. You have assured us that if two of us agree on earth concerning anything that we ask, it will be done. So we come to Your presence with all humility and with oneness of mind that You may dwell with us and be the Head of this family. Riches and honor, enduring riches and righteousness are with You, Lord.
Bless us with all abundance and joy. Be with us and guide us in all that we do. May Your name be glorified in our family, now and forever. Amen.
"NOW THEREFORE, LET IT PLEASE YOU TO BLESS THE HOUSE OF YOUR SERVANT, THAT IT MAY CONTINUE FOREVER BEFORE YOU; FOR YOU, O LORD GOD, HAVE SPOKEN IT, AND WITH YOUR BLESSING LET THE HOUSE OF YOUR SERVANT BE BLESSED FOREVER."
- 2 Samuel 7:29
When I saw this... I just smiled and laughed out loud with great JOY! LOVE!
Loving God, rewarder of the humble, you blessed St. Josephine Bakhita with charity and patience. May her prayers help us, and her example inspire us to carry our cross and to love you always. Pour upon us the spirit of wisdom and love with which you filled St. Josephine Bakhita. By serving you as she did, may we please you by our faith and our actions. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. (Prayer in Honor of St. Josephine Bakhita)
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