Leave a comment

Parkinson’s People

Posted by eph21920 on June 10, 2019 in Life, Sick, Struggles

Today in my mom’s Parkinson’s exercise class, there were two new college students who will be working with them. They introduced themselves and asked the participants to do the same. Some talked about what they “used” to do. There were teachers, organization volunteers, and one who loved doing ballroom dancing. It was difficult to imagine since they now struggle just to move, speak, and smile. But they also talked about how much they loved coming to the class. They enjoyed not just the much needed exercise, but they appreciated the community they found in one another. Listening to them speak helped me to remember not to judge and to see the value in each person.

I Found God today in the courage of the Parkinson’s people.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Sun and Holy Spirit

Posted by eph21920 on June 9, 2019 in Answer, Connected, Creation, Opportunity, Prayer

Today is Pentecost. In church, the priest talked about how the Holy Spirit can help any and all people who ask. He compared it to the sun. When I go outside, I love the warm sun on my face. When my mom and I walk and the sun is shining, she always comments on how wonderful it feels. We enjoy the warmth on a very personal level. At the same time, we all reap the benefits of the sun collectively through the life it brings to our world. And as the sun shares it’s elements with us, it does not detract from it’s essence. So it is with the Holy Spirit. On a very personal and individual level, we have the ability to enjoy the fruits of the Holy Spirit such as kindness and patience, if we only ask. At the same time, the world reaps the benefits of those who share the goodness by allowing the Holy Spirit to work through them. And as the Spirit shares itself with us, it does not dwindle or decrease. I thought it was a beautiful analogy.

I Found God today in a beautiful analogy of the Holy Spirit.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Help at the Nursery

Posted by eph21920 on June 8, 2019 in Children, Creation, Generosity, Happiness, Shopping, Stranger

We seemed to finally have a string of nice weather, so today my mom and I decided to go to the plant nursery. I think half the city decided to do the same thing as the place was packed with people looking for flowers, seedlings, vegetable starters, and everything a person needs to garden. Luckily my mom and I were able to make our way through the narrow, stony aisles in the greenhouse. My mom found the perfect geranium, which she gets every year. I got a variety of flowers to put in the pots outside near the front stairs. We made our way to check out and found a very long line. I spotted a table with some chairs and told my mom she could sit there while I waited in the line. Before my mom could head over, the man at the end of the line asked his daughter to go and get the chair. She brought it over and the man set it in a good spot for my mom to take a rest. I took my place behind him. I chatted a bit with the man and his daughter and after a couple of minutes, he took the box I was holding with all the plants. He carried them until we reached the check out counter. It is so nice when people try to make accommodations for my mom and a pleasant surprise when someone offers to help me too.

I Found God today in a very thoughtful and helpful man.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Surprise Wedding Party

Posted by eph21920 on June 7, 2019 in Food, Friends, Fun, Generosity, Marriage, New

I love the water aerobics class that I go to. It is a great workout. But also the people are super nice and thoughtful. One of the young lifeguards got married recently but did not have a big ceremony, or a shower, or a party of any kind. My aerobics instructor suggested having a party for them and we all agreed it was a great idea. She talked to the new groom and set it up for him to come and really surprise the young woman. She wanted to make it a special time for them. We had the party this morning after our class. Everyone pitched in with decorations, food, a cake, cards and gifts, and wedding favors. My mom let us borrow her one of a kind silver punch bowl to make it even a little more fancy. The young couple have been having a string of bad things happening to them, so the party was timely. They were so cute as they cut the cake and fed it to each other. The new bride was very surprised to see her husband there. Both of them were so appreciative.

I Found God today in thoughtful people and appreciative newly weds.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Music Soothes the Soul

Posted by eph21920 on June 5, 2019 in Answer, Dog, Family, Healing, Music

My brother’s dog is terrified of thunder. Unfortunately, we have been getting thunderstorms every afternoon recently. Today she came down in my room with me and shivered as I tried to soothe her. I put on some relaxing classical music which seemed to help. After a while, my brother tried to get her to take a walk which she would have none of. Everyone was upstairs by this time and my mother took over trying to calm the poor terrified dog. She said she wished there was something she could do to help. I told her about the music, so she headed to the piano. After a song or two, the shaking dog started to calm down. Then she went over close to the piano and laid down, ready to listen to the rest of her concert. My mother obliged. By the time my mom was played out, the dog was almost back to normal. The music did in fact soothe the beast.

In Found God today as music soothed the terrified dog.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Loving Posture

Posted by eph21920 on June 4, 2019 in Connected, Life, Love, Relationship, Stranger

Today in the grocery store, I stopped in the card aisle. There was a woman and a young man there too. I heard them chat a bit and when they turned around, I realized the young man had Down’s Syndrome. They made their choice and left the aisle. I found the perfect card and made my way down the main aisle of the store. The young man and woman – I presume his mother – were walking side by side just a bit in front of me. While continuing to walk, the woman put her hand out and the young man took it without missing a beat. Now they were walking side by side and hand in hand. Clearly this was a natural posture for them. Even so, I thought it was beautiful.

I Found God today in a loving posture.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Good Friendships

Posted by eph21920 on June 3, 2019 in Family, Friends, Fun, Grateful, Life

My son was on a trip the past week and was the best man at his friend’s wedding. He and the groom met online as they were choosing roommates for their first year in college. They quickly became good friends and ended up rooming together for the full 5 years of their college career. I picked my son up from the airport today and he told me all about the event. He said the best part was seeing his college crew. They decided that they all need to get together once a year and started making plans. I was glad for him and the blessing of the friendships he had.

I Found God today in the blessing of good friendships.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Appreciating Help

Posted by eph21920 on June 2, 2019 in Family, Grateful

My dad spent several days at the cabin with my brother. They worked on and completed several projects. On the way home today, my dad talked about how much he loved being there. He felt good physically. He got a lot done. He especially enjoyed being with and having the help of my brother. I really appreciate him as well.

I Found God today appreciating my brother.

Permalink
Leave a comment

In the Common

Posted by eph21920 on June 1, 2019 in Answer, Family

My mom, dad, brother, and I were relaxing at the cabin tonight talking about how we found God. Of course, by just being at the cabin surrounded by nature it is easy to see and feel God’s presence. As we reflected on our busy day, we discussed how we did a lot of cleaning. Everyone did their share of straightening up, dusting, vacuuming and such. Then people took turns washing and showering. My brother pointed out that everything and everyone was a lot cleaner than the day before. He reminded us of the quote that “Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” so we must be on the right track. He also said that sometimes you just find God in the common things. So true.

I Found God today in the common.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Unique Marvel

Posted by eph21920 on May 31, 2019 in Answer, Children, Connected, Creation, Faith, Life, Mary, Plan

Tonight, my mom read a quote from Pablo Casals. It read in part, ” . . . You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. . . . And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel?”  Also, today in the Church we celebrate the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist. In the reflection by Bishop Robert Barron, he talked about how both Elizabeth and Mary had realized the marvel of not only themselves, but that of their situation. Though they did not know at the time how everything would play out, they discovered their role in the “theo-drama” – God’s plan for their lives in the world. I thought the two reflections connected beautifully.

I Found God today in a reminder of the uniqueness of each person as a being and as a role in the world.

Permalink