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The 9th Language

Posted by eph21920 on February 21, 2017 in Hope, Life, Youth

My mom’s friend came over today and we all got caught up on the happenings of the past week. I told her about the Fostering Hope dinner I was involved with over the weekend. Several youth and the adult team (including me) made pizza dinner and cookie pizzas for dessert. Most of the time, we host a dinner for a specific group of people such as the Knights of Columbus, or the foster families. This time, we made the feast for ourselves to enjoy. We all had a good time making up different kinds of pizzas and cookies. A couple of young adults who were previously in foster care also came. I got to talking with one of the girls who told me more about herself. She was from Africa and French was her first language. English was actually her 9th language – she knew Swahili and several other African dialects. She is currently attending a community college and trying to transfer to a state college. Aside from taking a full load of courses, she holds 3 part-time jobs – one of them is tutoring English. I was just amazed at the hope, positive attitude and determination of this young woman. She was quite a role model for the younger youth as well.

I Found God today in a persevering young woman.

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A Flourishing Priest

Posted by eph21920 on February 20, 2017 in Faith, Friends, Priest

When I was working at a church, I met many priests and several seminarians who were working their way to becoming a priest. A few years ago, one particular seminarian became a priest and much of the staff went to his ordination. I visited him a few times at the church where he was the associate pastor. A couple of days ago, I received a Facebook invitation from him and a different parish. I looked it up today and saw that he is now the pastor of the new church. The parish has a wonderful website and I was overjoyed to see a video of him welcoming people to the church. There was also a video of his homilies, so I watched the one from yesterday. He spoke wonderfully, referring to his tablet only to quote scripture as he paced and spoke directly to the people. His message was about realizing that we don’t know everything, we aren’t perfect, and we need to admit our weaknesses and faults. More to point, we are sinners, we need to admit those sins and ask for God’s grace and forgiveness. It was really wonderful to see how much he has grown in his vocation. I could feel his energy, passion, and enthusiasm right through the screen. It is clear that he has relied on God to direct him and he will touch the hearts of many more people.

I Found God today seeing how He has formed a wonderful young man to spread His message.

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Loving One Another

Posted by eph21920 on February 19, 2017 in Faith, Hope, Life, Love

Today at church, the deacon told a beautiful story that went along with the scripture readings, particularly “… love your neighbor as yourself”. He said when he was little, his father would occasionally come home from work with a little toy for him. The family owned a shoe store and sometimes he would go to work with his dad where he would help stock the shoes. One day, the boy went along with his father to the store. On the way home, they came across a man on the street selling little plastic ducks. His father asked the man how much they were. The man answered $1 each. His father said his mother would love it and gave the man $5. As they walked down the street, the boy asked his father why he gave the man $5 for a plastic toy that was only $1. The father said that people knew the man to be a new immigrant. He had a family and was providing for them by selling little toys. The generous dad and others bought the toys to help support the man and his family. They took care of one another. It was a timely story that brought tears to my eyes.

I Found God today in an example of how we are to love one another.

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Life Paths

Posted by eph21920 on February 18, 2017 in Job, Joy, Life, Music, Plan

My sister came for the day. This morning we got to talking about our kids and their future. They have the world at their feet, which is both exciting and overwhelming. My mom said that from the time she was little, she always knew that music would be the focus of her life. And it was. She has always been in choirs, played the organ in churches, accompanied singers, and taught music and piano lessons. She still gets together with her good friend every week and they play duets. Music has always been a part of who she is – particularly playing the piano. It fulfills her, brings her joy, and blesses those around her. It is clear that this is her gift. We talked about how others also have gifts and talents unique to them. Sometimes people don’t recognize them. It can take time to discover who you are and how you should live your life. And we learn and grow as a person as we go along. In my case, my focus has changed dramatically depending on the circumstances at the time. I do know that God has created each person with particular gifts and when we use them, we find that we are joyful and we are able to bless those around us.

I Found God today appreciating the unique gifts and lives that He has given each person.

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Beauty in Death

Posted by eph21920 on February 17, 2017 in Death, Prayer

This afternoon I went to a caregiver’s support group. One of the people talked about the recent death of their mother. They were happy to be with her during her final moments. Several people then shared about their own experience with losing a loved one. They had very similar sentiments – that they were blessed to be with their loved one at the very end. They talked about what a beautiful time it was for them and their family. In these cases, all knew that the end was near and they were able to set up hospice and a support system. I thought about a priest I knew who talked about his experiences with people who were dying. He said it was the most intimate part of their lives as they prepared to meet God. Perhaps that is what makes it “beautiful” even in the midst of suffering and sadness. I never know what I am going to hear when I attend these groups, but I always walk away with more knowledge and insight and plenty to ponder and pray about.

I Found God today in honest conversations about the beauty of death.

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Very Compliant

Posted by eph21920 on February 16, 2017 in Doctor, Family, Healing, Laughter

My dad had a follow up visit with the dermatologist today. When we were there a few weeks ago, the doctor “froze” some spots and gave my dad some instructions to help take care of his itchy spots. At today’s appointment, my dad told the doctor about how he was using all the creams and soaps that were recommended. He was able to report that his problem areas have calmed down and he is feeling pretty good. The dermatologist listened attentively as my dad outlined his routine and said that my dad was the most compliant patient he had seen all day. He said he was ready to burst into tears. My dad got quite a kick out of that and felt even better when we left.

I Found God today in a humorous doctor and a happy dad.

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Blessing of Friends and Family

Posted by eph21920 on February 15, 2017 in Connected, Family, Friends, Grateful

I got my hair cut today and, like any good hair appointment, there was a lot of talking going on. My hair stylist told me about her sister who is going through a divorce. She is living in another state with her 2 children and feels incredibly alone. Her “friends” are no longer there for her and her family is far away. I could very much relate to her pain. We talked about how important it is to have family near by – family who is there for you to help and support you. I thought about my own experience going through a divorce very far away from my family. I continue to be extremely grateful for the job I got with a church and for the people I worked with and in the congregation. They became my family and I still consider them to be. I know there are people I could count on if I cried for help. Now that I am back with my parents, I am grateful that my sisters are close and come visit when they can. There are also people here that I have been able to re-connect and continue friendships with. My stylist said that her sister is trying to make her way back home. I told her I would keep her in my prayers.

I Found God today as I was reminded of the blessing I have in friends and family.

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Keeping the Traditions

Posted by eph21920 on February 14, 2017 in Death, Friends, Love, Tradition

Today my mom’s friend came over for their usual weekly visit. My mom had a valentine all ready for her. Her husband passed away a couple of years ago. She told us that her daughter bought her a box of chocolates just like her husband used to. Her daughter was making sure that she was keeping up the traditions that her father was doing for her mother. I thought that was so loving.

I Found God today in a loving daughter.

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Blessing in Disguise

Posted by eph21920 on February 13, 2017 in Answer, Family, Generosity, Grateful

A few months ago, my dad, my sister and I went out to purchase a new bed for my mom that would be in place when she came home from a hospital and rehab stay. We wanted a bed that would be easy for her to get in and out of and that would be very comfortable for her as she continued to recover. Many times, when one of my parents is going through a rough time physically, one of them would sleep in the bed and one of them would sleep on the sofa so as not to disturb the other. This typically meant that if they shared the bed, neither one slept well and if one was on the sofa, neither one slept well. For my mom, we decided on a twin bed with a platform that raises the head and/or the feet. Right before she was to come home, we got a call from the bed store that the mattress we ordered was not in stock. My dad talked with them and explained the situation. They very generously brought a different mattress – one of their best – and said my mom could try it out. She came home, tried out the bed, and loved it. We ended up keeping the upgraded mattress and paying only a small price difference as the manager was super helpful. Since then, my mom has continued to enjoy the bed, but this has left my parents separated. They talked about options and today decided to go back to the bed store and get a new bed for my dad too. He got the same kind so they can put them side by side and be together again. As I thought about this, the original mattress being out of stock was really a blessing. We didn’t think so at the time, because it caused us undue anxiety. However, we found out today that the store no longer carries that mattress. It would have been impossible for my dad to get the same one and the two beds would not have matched up if they put them together. This way, my dad was able to purchase the exact same mattress and they should fit perfectly side by side. That will be wonderful.

I Found God today in a blessing in disguise.

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Snow Connections

Posted by eph21920 on February 12, 2017 in Connected, Friends, Weather

My friends in the Northeast have been hit with one snowstorm after another. As they prepared for their current storm, I have been keeping up with what is happening via social media. Several people were outside playing before it got dark. There were conversations about going to the grocery and not being able to find the needed ingredients or food as so many items were sold out. They baked and cooked. I empathized witht them all. Part of me was missing the excitement – but not the shoveling part. I thought about what I would be doing and talked with people about their plans. I enjoyed this connection and praying for everyone’s safety and well being.

I Found God today connecting with far away friends.

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