Thursday, October 14, 2021

A year later dad with me!/"by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus"/Pick up bale day

 

Dad just on oxygen to help him breath more comfortably was letting me see with my eyes that we were getting closer to the end of his life.  Yet, at 3p we still shared our rosary and chaplet of Divine Mercy.  I could tell that he was not only weaker, but his mind was less clear as he would lose his place or even fall asleep.  Still we did our work of prayer!

Knowing now as I can look back that we are approaching the last week of my father's life as he was here with me to the very end...  We had 9 days to go and had to stand our ground at not doing any above and beyond measures, but allow dad to have a "natural death" with the help of hospice and our faith.

Father Denny came for dad to have his Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.  How we are very blessed by The Church in all the ways each day we are given so very much for our journey!  

Last night I gave my talk on Knowing God through Prayer, and my dad was there with me!  After my 6 months of sharing his final journey with him here in our farm monastery, and with my beloved hospice to assist us... it was the centerpoint of my sharing.  I was allowed to share my dad's call to religious life 44 years before as a Permanent Deacon in The Church as we right up to the end shared morning and evening prayer and 3p rosary and chaplet!  Yes, a few times at the end I had to read them to him as he rested, but even the day before he sat up in bed and prayed with me!

Dad and I shared Jesus in the Eucharist as part of the Anointing.   "I am not worthy for you to enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."  Come Jesus!!!  "My Lord, and my God."

"The Body of Christ."  "Amen."

St Paul today in the first reading from mass in Romans 3 is a strong reminder that we are redeemed by the Love of Jesus for us...

"...all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
through the forbearance of God–
to prove his righteousness in the present time,
that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus."  Romans 3

I have no doubts about the faith of my father and his love for Jesus and longing to be with him forever in heaven!  I rejoice for his finally reaching the end of his days here on earth and joining mom after only being apart 7 months of their 70 years together!  What JOY!

9 years ago Captain Joseph came home to the loving arms of his family from Afghanistan after the traumatic birth of their son, Patrick.  Such JOY!  Now Patrick is the picture of health thanks to so many heartfelt prayers that surrounded us!
Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: The story of little Lamb - grandson Patrick
Mass with my parents on Respect LIFE Sunday 4 years ago - yes, right up until my mother died in a day after falling they were together for approaching 71 years.  Mom died on March 16th, dad came to live with me on April 16th, and died 6 months later on October 23rd, 2020. 

 I miss them so much, yet they continue with me each day with the prayer books they left for me as well as the prayers I know they are showering more perfectly on us from heaven.  Prayer for their family was always huge and was the wind beneath our wings!
I was told that this will begin the picking up of bales - over 500 corn stalk bales.  Ruth in one tractor and I in another.  Lord, be with us!
My wonderful amazing farmer daughter, who will soon welcome her little boy - #7 child in our farm family.  So many prayers since we knew of him  in the womb.
Fun on the bales - praying that we will be safe and patient with one another.  
Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara
I have always thought that they were a thing of beauty hence bale pictures down through the years!
Baby Joy Jean on a bale 4 years ago.  Her preschool teacher shared that she lights up the room with her beautiful beaming smile!  Joy is the perfect name for what she brings to our lives each day!
Joy Joy with kitten smiles!
My beads connecting me to heaven will accompany me today.  It allows me to calm my nerves with peace and trust in Jesus and Mary - My Lord and Lady!

Simplicity is a good thing in this over complicated world!  Time alone with my Lord and Lady!  
 "God would never inspire me with desires
which cannot be realised; so in spite of my littleness
I can hope to be a saint." - St Therese of Lisieux
 
 
"As believers, all of us are called to
live our lives for and from the Eucharist
because then we will be
living our lives for and from Jesus.
 
These graces, these principles,
were and are the building blocks we see
in the lives of all the saints. 
They can be found in every single biography
of every single saint."
 
Fr Barry Braum
That I May See
Journeying from Spiritual Confusion and Blindness
to the Radiance of the Eucharist
Adoratio Press (2017)
  Painting below: Jeanne Illenye
 
_________________
Danielle Rose - The Saint that is just me





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