Struggles
Patient Endurance
I touched base with a friend today who is struggling. I have always admired her patient endurance especially in difficult circumstances. This morning I received a short meditation that was particularly fitting: “The patient and humble endurance of the cross—whatever nature it may be—is the highest work we have to do.”— St. Katharine Drexel I […]
TAPS Across America
My mom was happy to get back to her online exercise class after they took a 2 week break. After the hour class, the participants chatted about what was the best thing that happened during their hiatus. One man said that he participated in TAPS Across America. Some family and friends came over on Memorial […]
Surrender Novena
It has been a challenging couple of days. The surrender novena was recommended to me by a friend a couple weeks ago. It is beautiful and I have been praying it nightly before I go to bed. Each prayer concludes with, “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!” (10 times) But, […]
The Dementia Struggle
I read a friend’s post today and could empathize in my own situation. This is what she wrote: “My husband was diagnosed with Temporal frontal lobe dementia in in 2014. His progression has been gradual until this past year and now it is increasingly progressing. It is the saddest thing I have had to watch […]
Through Suffering
Ever since I received my COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, I have had a headache. Sometimes it’s there in the background, other times it is throbbing. I was talking to my mom about it today and told her that every night when I go to bed, I think that maybe I’ll feel like myself again tomorrow. […]
Blessed Solanus Casey
Today I read a story about Blessed Solanus Casey who was a priest who served in Detroit, Michigan. He was known for helping to heal the sick and burdened through the intercession of Jesus Christ. People asked him the age old question of why God allows suffering. Fr. Solanus didn’t have an answer, but would […]
Outpouring of Encouragement
A friend whose husband has Parkinson’s had come to the difficult realization that it was time for him to be placed in a memory care facility. He kept trying to walk on his own, which he is unable to do, and was falling on a regular basis. While it was an incredibly painful decision, she […]
Importance of Humor
Today I listened to much of a Conference on dementia to see if I could pick up some more information and tips as my parents and I make our way through this period. One of the speakers worked at a memory care facility and talked about the importance of humor – keeping your sense of […]
Life is Not Mine
Over the past 3 days, my parents and I have been watching a parish retreat. The priest offered a different way of viewing sins – as wounds. Our wrongdoings certainly have an effect on us and on our souls. He led meditative prayer to ask God to heal those wounds. One thought that stuck with […]
Depth Perception
Tonight my prayer group talked about the upcoming Gospel for Sunday which is the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. In the story, three of Jesus’ disciples witness Jesus in His glory. Then, they are overshadowed by a cloud – God – who tells them to listen to Jesus. In our discussion, we realized that […]
Still Finding God 