Take that Grace and Run With It

We have a really nice, usually vacant, 24 hour adoration chapel near our home, and while I don't get there as often as I'd like, I happen to make a visit yesterday. At times, simply spending time there, gives me a clarity, a simplicity in my vantage point.

Yesterday, I went, and spent time as usual in His Presence, and then for some reason, I simply asked if there was anything He wanted to share with me. I suppose I got the sense I had left my laundry list of requests or ponderings at His feet, without truly knowing what He wanted to share with me, which I admit happens all too often.

No matter our current struggles, and/or our own meager human understanding of the situation, God can use our openness to Him, for a glimpse into truth.

And then, I got a flash, which I can only say was a grace given. I began to think of all the individuals along the path of Christ's last days....from the scene in the Garden, just being betrayed, yet still showing his compassion enough to mend the wounded ear of a soldier. Then, skip to the scene of Him carry his cross, and meeting with the women, and His Mother, giving comfort to them, when clearly they hoped to ease His suffering. Then, jump to his last moments with the good thief next to him...where He still forgives and promises compassion to this man, who at last found faith.

It seems that in Christ's last days, when he knew what would come, and the suffering that he would endure, He still managed to show compassion, forgiveness and love. Perhaps He was just so much more effective in reaching these individuals because He was acting when least expected. He could have been absorbed in fulfilling God's will, and shutting out everything else....but he didn't. Somehow, He recognized that fulfilling God's will included reaching out to these individuals along the journey, and that it HAD to happen at that moment and not another moment. It makes me wonder the power of reaching out to others, when we are at our most vulnerable, or at the times we want to shut out the world and be self-absorbed, curled up on the couch waiting for the sun to shine again.

Perhaps it is these exact moments, that God is challenging us to use that pain, that vulnerability to be Christ for someone else. Maybe we are more compassionate when we are looking, ourselves for compassion. Perhaps when we have been hurt, we can recognize the hurt in others.

God has a way to tell us what we need just when we need it. And for sure, He told me. The hard part, is putting that realization into practice. And so I walked slowly back to my car, pulled out my phone and made, probably the hardest phone call I ever had to make. Even in this tough moment, with the ringing on the other side seemingly sounding off in slow motion, God is there. As I left a message, it occurred to me, He only wanted to see if I would take His Grace and run with it. What happens now, well, now I can honestly say, is in His hands.

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu Nihon - Thank You Japan

First, I apologize. It's almost been a week since my last post, and life certainly has a way to take me over. Arigato Gozaimasu - Thank You We have many commitments, many places where we have promised our time and energy, and when sickness sets in for me or anyone in our home, life pretty much stops....for little while anyway. Thankfully, the illnesses are down to minor colds, and as of yesterday, I am off the meds to treat a sinus infection. But that's not all. It's re-enrollment time at school, and every March we face the same uncertain future in debate...Can we swing yet another year's worth of financial commitment to our Catholic school, for four children. It's a stressful time, it's uncertain, and I have to say, that security is something I thrive on. Any insecurity, and I tell you, life just isn't right. With the children unaware of our finessing the budget, we work to keep that calm and peace that assures the children all wil...

Words Can Hurt

When we first started having children, like most people, we realized quickly how they often work as a mirror to our own actions. Letting a swear word slip here or there was not uncommon in our home, yet, when our first child was about 18 months or so, and hearing my swear word echo in the house for several days from her little lips, well, it was enough to curb my speech, dramatically. And now, swear words are never spoken in front of the children, and we have adopted a few more words that are unacceptable in the house, even though common place in the world. Just another example at how, as parents, we truly are the domestic church. The world may be on the path of negativity, but the home is where we make the difference. My four year old the other day, said, "I hate tomatoes!" Not the worst thing to hear from her mouth, granted, however, the word 'hate' bothers me a lot. 'Hate' is a very strong word, opposite of 'Love'. Think of how strong that word, ...

Little Guys and Big Things

Sometimes, Veggie Tales stick with you. Even when an 8 year old seems too old for Veggie Tale stories, and reluctantly watches a few, the messages do stick. Over the weekend, my Knight was to serve Mass. For the past few Sundays he has been serving, and we keep reminding him of the various ways to show reverence while doing his duties.....a bow to the tabernacle, folding of the hands and so forth. Sunday, I happened to be watching Knight lather his gel in his hair to ready for Mass, and I once again, reminded him to keep his reverent ways about him while serving. He made a distinct face at me, and said, "Ugh, Mom, those other server boys are bigger than me. I don't want to do something they aren't doing." "I understand, but you could set the example, because you know, what you are doing is the right thing." He shook his head, looked at himself in the mirror, and seeing his own image reflected, said again, "I'm the youngest one there, Mom...

S.tay A.t H.ome M.om at Work

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