Hammering out his work history over the last 10 years is a picture of perseverance and doors opening and closing. Once again we are asking the Lord to reveal his plan for John, and we have no doubt that it is amazing and how he yearns to include his sharing his story in that plan!
The leaves are falling like crazy with this cold and wind! Truly we see the reason for the name of the season being "Fall"! My trees are now bare and wintry looking in a few days time.
Working with John as closely, as I have been gifted with in the midst of my parents and my daughters and son and their families, has been good yet kind of sobering to be back at square one again. The Psalm from mass today really bridges the place I am with John and also the surprising harvest we are having a month late when we had no idea how it was going to be with our late start of only getting half of our crop in!
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us. Psalm 126
St Jude has taken a prominent place for us since John named his son, Jude, and St Jude's feast day was yesterday so we had him on our hearts today as we prayed together. "St Jude send to me miraculous impossibilities with my job and my sharing my story." John explained that it would be so unexpected yet perfect for him to serve others and provide for his family. Yes, Lord, we know that you have a plan for John so that he can share his light with all as he found his faith through brain cancer!
John is at the place where we go forth with the seeds asking the Lord where and how he wants them planted, with some frustration and sadness to not see clearly where we go from here. We do know that there will be doors opening and direction as we continue to run the race. At the same time the men, with help from John when needed, are getting a surprise after all their worry and hard work this summer of all summers, with a late wet start and wet throughout all the summer! The harvest is bountiful and surprising and so the words of the psalm are true for them as they "come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves! The Lord has done marvels for us!" Experiencing the weeping going forth, and the rejoicing coming back at the same time... Are'nt our lives filled with those ups and downs and uncertainties we place in his hands and trust?
Soon we will have to put away the porch furniture... Ruth is hoping for some nice days in November yet. It will be sad to put away the porch.
The Gospel is the mustard seed planted which has grown into a huge tree where birds can nest. Looking back over the last 10 years of John's healing we do see that the Lord is nurturing the seed planted as he found his faith through brain cancer. Praying for him then and now has been a powerful witness to so many of the power of prayer being real! Going forth no matter the obstacle has blossomed forth into a beautiful tree of LIFE/John's cross called Brain cancer/healing/marriage/family/ministry/and vocation/job... the tree of LIFE with its' fruit shared with all!
Bobbi's story of praying for John over the last 12 years!
After being classmates for all 13 years for them to come together 10 years after graduating is kind of special. She shared to the 300 family and friends gathered at the reception in her sweet humble way about how John Verly popped into her head and heart when they were seniors in HS as her future husband. Time and time again the same answer came to her through prayer and roses from St Therese and opening her eyes to see him right in front of her at WYD in Australia... When we consider what John experienced over those 10 years... brain cancer, seminary, girl friends, ups and downs and how disheartening it probably was and how powerful her prayers were for him!!!! Amazing!!! And how patient and trusting and prayerful and waiting and praying for John, this sweet girl was!
Jesus, you answered prayers which seemed miraculously impossible! To see your fingerprint on our lives humbles us and lifts us up to trust in your perfect plan for us if only we ask and Trust! How we rejoice with your generous love for us and unconditional forgiveness and mercy. May we die to self so that you may live in us and guide and direct our lives. May we embrace our Most Cherished Cross and find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
We are not alone!
No comments:
Post a Comment