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Family Reunited

Posted by eph21920 on January 8, 2023 in Baby, Death, Eternity, Faith, Family, Hope

My mom and I were talking about our neighbors’ grandson who was born premature, then got sick, but now is home. My mom talked about the baby that she had born premature. His lungs weren’t fully developed and unfortunately at that time, the medical professionals didn’t have the technology to treat infants born too early. My brother was named and baptized before God took him home. I told my mom that now, God willing, he is with his father, as are the other miscarriages that my mom had. She had not thought about that before and we both got teary eyed. Not only that, the pregnancy that I had that ended too early as well as others in my family are, again God willing, together in Heaven and are praying for us. That is very comforting.

I Found God today in the hope that our loved ones who have left this earth are together and in Heaven.

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God Said Rest

Posted by eph21920 on January 7, 2023 in Answer, Faith, Friends, Healing, Life, Patience, Rest, Sick

It was a beautiful sunny day today, so mom and I sat outside for a while determined to get some of that healing vitamin D. After a few minutes, our neighbor came out to his porch too. He has a bad respiratory infection and had the same idea of getting good air and sunshine. We chatted a bit. Then my mom and I decided to walk a little since we haven’t done so in weeks. We walked to the end of our walkway and back. Before we made it back, I started feeling ill and was happy to get back inside and to the sofa. After lunch I took a 2 hour nap. I chatted with a friend later and told her how frustrating it is that my COVID recovery seems to be moving at a snail’s pace. But I am trying to be patient and grateful that I am moving in a positive direction. I told her I just get up every morning and ask God what He wants me to do. She reminded me that sometimes God just says rest. True.

I Found God today in a reminder that right now I need to rest.

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Catechism in a Year

Posted by eph21920 on January 6, 2023 in Answer, Begin, Bible, Faith, Life, Love, Relationship

I started missing my Bible class a while ago, but at the same time I have not wanted to start a new course. Then I learned about the Catechism in a Year by Ascension Press. It is a daily podcast led by Fr. Mike Schmitz who I have been a fan of. Starting from the beginning of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he reads excerpts and comments on them. Each session is only about 20 minutes long. The overarching theme of the Catechism itself is the truth about God’s eternal, unbelievable love for us as humanity and as individuals. Even though I have heard many of the writings and ideas before, they can touch my heart in a new way. That is part of the beauty of God’s love. I have been listening to the podcast before I go to bed, contemplating, and journaling my thoughts. Some of my take-aways in these first few days are: God has loved me into existence and wants me to exist. In Him I live and move and have my being. God is inexpressible, incomprehensible, invisible, ungraspable. By putting Him into my version of who He is, I am actually impeding my own spiritual growth and life that God has for me and those around me. This podcast is such a blessing in that it is not just head information about what Catholics believe, but speaks to the heart of the matter.

I Found God today opening myself up to Him more by reading the Catechism.

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Exceptional Humility

Posted by eph21920 on January 5, 2023 in Death, Generosity, Humility, Pope

Tonight we watched the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI. Of course it was attended by cardinals, bishops, priests, nuns, heads of state, and lay people. There has been a lot of talk the past few days of his great humility – particularly as he stepped down from his office realizing he was no longer able to perform his duties. What struck me the most was at the end of the Mass, his body was brought into the basilica for the burial. Following his casket were the 4 women who were his caretakers. They were in effect his family at the end of his life, as his biological family had already died. I thought of the humility it took on his part to allow himself to be cared for and the humility on the part of the 4 women whose portion of their lives were spent for him.

I Found God today in great acts of humility.

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Dog Hero

Posted by eph21920 on January 5, 2023 in Dog, Friends, Grateful, Knowledge, Life, Sick

A couple of weeks ago, my friend’s mother had to be taken to the hospital. My friend lives with her mom and said she knew there was something the matter by the way her dog was behaving. He usually sleeps in my friend’s room in the lower level of the house, while her mother is on the upper level. That night, he wouldn’t leave her mother’s side. My friend stayed up and with her until it became obvious that she was in distress and called 911. Had the dog cooperated and gone to bed, my friend may not have been aware of the severity of her mother’s illness. My friend ordered a special tag for her dog on Etsy with his picture on one side and on the other was the testimony of him saving his grandmother’s life. The person who created the tag also included a special heart charm for my friend’s mother who was very touched by the whole thing.

I Found God today in a dog hero.

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Burden Barrier

Posted by eph21920 on January 3, 2023 in Answer, Faith, Grace, Hope, Jesus, Life, Peace, Problem, Struggles

My mom read today’s excerpt from our “Jesus Calling” book. It said in part, “Refresh yourself in the Peace of My Presence. This Peace can be your portion at all times and in all circumstances. Learn to hide in the secret of My Presence…” It talked about not being weighed down with problems and I thought I heard mom say that Jesus is our burden-barrier. I loved this image. I pictured Jesus standing in front of me, facing away from me with his arm and hand extended as if to say “halt”. He is the barrier between me and my burdens. But, when we talked about it later, it actually said that Jesus is our burden-bearer. Same kind of protection, but different image. This time I thought of Jesus walking beside me with a backpack full of my burdens that He is carrying for me. Either way, I pray for the grace to remember that Jesus is with me and that I do not carry my troubles alone.

I Found God today in viewing Him as my burden barrier.

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She’s Back

Posted by eph21920 on January 2, 2023 in Family, Grateful, Sick

My sister has been away for a few weeks. She was caring for a friend’s house while they were away. Then, when my mom and I got COVID, I told her it would probably be best for her if she stayed away longer. She returned the other day. She has been wearing the N95 masks that my brother provided and has been cooking meals, doing laundry, and caring for my mom. It is a blessing to have her back as I continue to recover and I am praying that she doesn’t get sick.

I Found God today in my caring sister.

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Lord Bless You

Posted by eph21920 on January 1, 2023 in Answer, Begin, Bible, Connected, Faith, Family, Grateful, Life, Music

Yesterday a friend sent me a New Year’s prayer: “May the Lord bless you and keep you, May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26. It is one of my and mom’s favorite scriptures. Today mom and I watched Mass on TV. As soon as I heard the beginning of the first reading, my heart lept. It was the same scripture with a few extra verses. One of the reasons my mom loves it so much is that her high school choir used to close each concert with the hymn of the same words. She even chose it to be sung at my dad’s funeral. So, we felt even more blessed when the choir sang the hymn during Mass today. God’s message was heard loud and clear. What a beautiful way to start this new year.

I Found God today in His blessing.

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Only To Trust

Posted by eph21920 on December 31, 2022 in Answer, Begin, Jesus, Life, Love, Pope, Trust

Other than getting well and trying to trust in God, I have no resolutions for the upcoming year. This year in particular has taught me that I’m better off if I don’t anticipate or have expectations. But that’s not meant in a negative way. One quote that struck me today was by Henri Nouwen, “If I trust deeply that today God is truly with me and holds me safe in a divine embrace, guiding every one of my steps I can let go of my anxious need to know how tomorrow will look or what will happen next week or next year. I can be fully where I am and pay attention to the many signs of God’s love within me and around me.” Each and every day I need to be aware of God’s loving presence so I can be a loving person. The other quote that I found particularly meaningful was, “If we allow the love of Christ to change our heart, then we can change the world.” – the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

I Found God today in encouragement to trust in Him.

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Holy Family

Posted by eph21920 on December 30, 2022 in Bible, Children, Family, Home, Life, Love, Relationship

Today my mom read in “The Word Among Us” the scripture reading Sirach 3:2-6,12-14 for the Feast of the Holy Family. Then we read the beautiful reflection that really hit home. It said in part:

“On this Feast of the Holy Family, let’s consider what it means to take care of our loved ones. Of course, it starts with making sure that they are physically safe and healthy. But it goes far beyond that. “Taking care” means being aware of their feelings and paying attention to how our words and actions affect them. It means being patient when they are slow to learn or unable to do things for themselves. It means doing all we can to share our faith and enable them … to practice theirs. It means telling them how much we appreciate them. It means forbearing when they annoy us and forgiving them when they hurt us. And it means interceding for all their needs. So take care of your children, your parents, your siblings. Take care of them when they are too young or too old to take care of themselves. Take care of them when they are ill or troubled. Take care of them when it’s a delight and when it’s a sacrifice. This is a high calling and we may fail at it sometimes. That’s all the more reason to ask Jesus, who experienced family life himself, for the grace to keep forming this circle of love – day by day, week by week, year by year.”

I Found God today in a beautiful, meaning description of family love.

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