Leave a comment

True Love and Joy

Posted by eph21920 on December 17, 2017 in Advent, Answer, Faith, Joy, Love

In church today, the priest addressed a couple of things on my mind. The first is that we – people – all have the same overarching desire to be known completely and loved fully and unconditionally by another person. But due to that fact that all other people are as imperfect as we are, that is something that is unattainable. However, God who created each of us knows us completely and loves us fully and unconditionally. The other desire we have is to be truly joyful. We can find joy in many things in the world we live in, but it doesn’t last. The source of true everlasting joy is again our Creator. So, the closer we come to Him, the more we can experience genuine love and joy. On this Joyful Sunday of Advent, I hope to remember this more.

I Found God today in a reminder of His true love and joy.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Mailing the Box

Posted by eph21920 on December 16, 2017 in Answer, Happiness

Today we got another package ready for Christmas mailing, but it was later in the day when I got to the post office. The main counters were already closed, but there are 3 do-it-yourself kiosks in the lobby. I have used them before and they are pretty handy. I got the postage on the box and then found that package would not fit into the deposit bin. So, I brought it back out with me to the car. I got the thought that if I found a mail person on the streets, I may be able to give them the box. I stopped at the mailboxes for the housing complex. There was no mail and no one there. I remembered that I usually see the mail truck in the adjacent neighborhood before our mail is delivered. So, I drove around a little and decided to head home and find another time to drop the box. I looked up the final street and there was a mail truck. I pulled up and asked the worker if I could give him the package. He was happy to. It was pretty funny that I had the thought, followed through, and it actually worked as I hoped. Now I can check another thing off my list.

I Found God today following through with a thought of a resolution that worked out.

Permalink
Leave a comment

The Force

Posted by eph21920 on December 16, 2017 in Connected, Faith

My son and I went to the new Star Wars movie this afternoon. We had a great time. After the movie, we came to the house to have dinner with my mom and dad. We lit the Advent candles and read the meditation for the day. The paragraph explained how God is everywhere and in everything. They were almost the exact same words that were used to describe “The Force”. When I was a youth minister, we used to talk about the comparison of spirituality in Star Wars and in faith.

I Found God today enjoying a movie that describes God in it’s own way.

Permalink
2 Comments

Singing Through Death

Posted by eph21920 on December 14, 2017 in Death, Faith, Music, Prayer

A friend of mine commented on yesterday’s post with a beautiful story of her own as she sang to her mother during her death. I will share it as my post for the day.

“Yes, God gives you graces you never dreamed of. I, too, was singing out loud when my mother took her last breath. It was Easter Monday and I was singing “He Lives!” It was an amazing experience! We were alone in her room and on the chorus, it was like she tried to sing with me so I said, “Oh, you want to sing too?!” Then I continued, knowing she was listening. When I started the 4th verse, “Rejoice, rejoice, he Christian, lift up your voice and sing….” she took one deep breath ( her only one!—the last, no slower or slower or “death rattle!”) and I paused after each phrase, waiting for another breath, until I got to the chorus and realized: SHE’S GONE! SHE ISN’T HERE ANYMORE! I pressed the button to call the hospice nurse and kept right in singing the chorus as she came in! I realized when I had sung “Eternal hallelujah to Jesus Christ the King” she was already there singing to Him! The last nurse had been Catholic and asked if she could pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet over my mom. I told her I am Catholic, but my mom is Christian ( Church of the Nazarene) and we both prayed the Chaplet over her. It gives me great comfort and confidence. What a blessing to recount it to others!!”

I Found God today in another story of a daughter ushering her mother through death.

Permalink
2 Comments

Song of Life

Posted by eph21920 on December 13, 2017 in Death, Friends, Grace, Life, Music

Today I was talking with a group of people about music. We discussed the instruments we played and the influence that our parents had on our love for music. One of the ladies said that her mother wrote a song. The lyrics describe the stages of life. She said when her mother was dying, she played the guitar and sang the song to her. I was so moved by that. I asked her how she was able to even get through the piece. She replied, “Only by the grace of God.” That is one of the most beautiful things I think I have ever heard.

I Found God today as a woman ushered her mother through the final stage of life with her song.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Children in Church

Posted by eph21920 on December 12, 2017 in Advent, Children, Family, Prayer

When we attend church, we always sit in the back. This is also where the large baptismal font is located. The other morning during Mass, there was an adorable little boy just learning to walk who was holding on as he practiced walking around and around the font as his dad followed him. At the end of Mass, the priest asked all the children to come to the altar for a special blessing. The little boy’s siblings made their way up the long aisle, so naturally the boy wanted to go too. His dad held his hands and everyone waited for him to walk to the front. It was precious. After the blessing, another little boy ran out of the church, with a sibling running behind to catch him. This reminded my mom of when my older brother ran away from her at church when she was pregnant. She had 2 other little ones also, and my brother knew she couldn’t catch him. Evidently he eventually returned on his own. Today’s Advent meditation encouraged families to take their children to church and we thought of these particular events. There is no doubt that it is difficult to bring young children to church. But I’m sure that the children participating in the blessing felt pretty special being called up to the altar and having everyone pray for them.

I Found God today in a reminder how important it is to bring children to church and include them in the celebration.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Supportive Groups

Posted by eph21920 on December 11, 2017 in Answer, Connected, Grateful, Life, Problem

We had 3 events today. My mom went to her exercise class in the morning. I had a caregiver’s support group/class in the afternoon. And tonight I met with my prayer group. In each event, at least one person expressed their gratitude for the group – particularly for the other people present. In each session, people realized that they are not alone in their struggles. The others there support them and help to build them up. I know that is true for me. When I am in my own mess by myself, I will reach the point where I feel like I am going to explode. Being with other people who have similar difficulties helps me to talk, listen, and learn. Even though each of the events were focused on completely different things, the result was the same for each. People were boosted, lifted up, by one another and came away better because of it.

I Found God today in supportive groups of people.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Paying it Forward

Posted by eph21920 on December 10, 2017 in Uncategorized

A few weeks ago when we went to our usual restaurant after church, an unknown stranger bought our lunch. My mom decided we should pay it forward. She kept an eye out last week, but the place was pretty empty. This week, my mom mentioned that she still wanted to purchase someone’s meal. Then, at the next table, we heard the unmistakable cry of a newborn. There was a family of a mom, dad, toddler, and infant. The dad picked up the baby and did his best to quiet him. My Mom then knew that she wanted this young family to receive the “pay it forward”. She suggested it to my dad, so when he went up to pay our bill, he said he wanted to take care of the tab for the family. It made us all feel joyful.

I Found God today in my parents’ thoughtfulness and generosity.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Old Entertaining Group

Posted by eph21920 on December 9, 2017 in Connected, Family, Music

When my family lived in this area about 50 years ago, my mom was part of a singing group that would perform for different organizations. After a couple of years, we moved overseas. During that time, the musical group continued, but under a different name. We eventually moved back and my parents have lived here ever since. Today, we went to the annual Parkinson’s support group Christmas party. The entertainment was the music group that my mom had belonged to all those years ago. I thought it interesting how our lives can be so intertwined.

I Found God today realizing how intertwined our lives are.

Permalink
Leave a comment

Contemplating Mary

Posted by eph21920 on December 8, 2017 in Faith, Grace, Mary, Trust

This morning when I got in the car to go exercise, I turned on the radio which was set for Christmas music. The song, “Ave Maria” was on. It reminded me that today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. When my parents and I read a meditation in the morning it suggested praying the Angelus prayer, so we did it right then. Then the Mass included scripture about Mary and the music included all the basic Marian songs that I love. It was a day full of contemplating the mystery of Mary as the chosen Mother of God. She is truly the perfect example of faith and trust in God.

I Found God today contemplating Mary the Mother of God.

Permalink