John has that contented happy peaceful look that reveals the happiness he has when he has all his family together. That does not happen often over these last 9 going on 10 years since Hallel left to join her Community of the Lamb in France.
About 9 months after Hallel left for France... John managed to get us back together as we gathered around him to fight the battle for his life against Brain Cancer!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html
I think you get the picture... John is an only son with 4 older sisters. We know that the 2 babies after him, which I carried for 5 months each were brothers, William and Robert, who are both buried at the cemetery here in Marshall. The losses I had amongst the girls led me to believe that I couldn't carry boys, so hence they are all named boys except for the last... My litany of losses are Christopher, Thomas, Joseph, Paul, William, Robert and Mary.
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html
Being snowed in this morning of my dad's 93rd birthday took all hope of me spending some time with my parents away, but for John and I it was an opportunity to pray long and hard as we shared the office/morning prayer. John started our time by pointing out the miraculous Truth that with Bobbi's 3 brothers (she is the opposite of John being the only girl with 3 brothers!) he will have 6 brothers to his 4 sisters and a wife. "The men will out number the women in my life with 6 amazing brother-in-laws combining both sides! "
John has asked me over and over why he did not have brothers, and I could honestly tell him that I tried with all that I had to give him brothers and more siblings. It was not the Lord's plan for us, and now we yearn to get to heaven to meet them and know of their wonderful love and prayers for us here on earth! Each day John prays with gratitude and awe of the wonderful men his sisters have found, now he adds his brothers to be... No longer can John say that he is brotherless here on this journey, although he was always aware of his heavenly ones in a most sweet and precious way!
As we were praying this morning... our intentions became full and long and filled with lovely thoughts and prayers... I especially loved when John prayed this; "To my ultra mom in heaven, who is watching over my brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. I long to be united with you someday." John and I love "our ultra mom"/Mary the Mother of God with all our hearts... we giggle with JOY at her special place in our hearts, minds and souls!
We celebrated together 3 years ago for my dad's 90th birthday! Today he is 93 and snowed in with my mom in St Croix Falls, WI! His plans to go to mass and out to breakfast with friends did not happen as they are socked in like the rest of us! How I love them and am so grateful to my wonderful husband for allowing me to spend time with them often!
Happy Birthday dearest dad of mine! How I love to have those days with you and mom. I love your lessons of our shared Faith in The Church, The Holy Spirit at work in you and my husband, that thanks to the Vets and your cochlear implant we can now hear each and communicate/the gift that gives and gives us JOY, I love that you and mom are together and managing OK, yet you love to share time with me! Oh, I am the luckiest girl alive!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html
When I consider my life and how I have been touched by Our Lord and Lady over and over in my life... I am overwhelmed!
I have just a brief sharing about the Gospel today where Jesus speaks to Peter about how we are called to forgive our brother seventy seven times! It would be hard to keep count to that... and therefore it is always and without end we are called to forgive!
The parable is quite thought provoking and enhances the idea that we are to return the unconditional love and forgiveness we have been given... the part that gave me Holy Spirit pause today was the idea of putting into prison the man, who owed him less. How can he repay his debt from prison, and do we do that to those that we don't find a way to forgive? Do we place them in a prison of sorts?
'Pay back what you owe.'
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused.
Instead, he had him put in prison
until he paid back the debt." Matthew 18
How do we do this to others with our holding a grudge of unforgiveness? As it turned out by placing someone in prison and demanding a payment of his debt... he in turn was tortured and put in prison worse than before! It comes back to hurt us worse than those we don't forgive, and the end result is one of pain and suffering. So much better if with the grace of God we can let go and let God!
Jesus, may we freely give the mercy and love we have been given as you forgive us totally and
"Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan." In our domestic church/family it is foremost important to free each other by forgiving as we have been forgiven and giving without counting the cost. Jesus, bless my dad and brother Dan on this their birthday. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen
Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
"Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
Me!!!!
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