Hello my friends!! Trying to think of today's blessings - I know there are many, last night's fight for air in my lungs at 3 AM which was so scary - it was such a blessing when I got my breath back, and I thought of Bobbiesue - trying to catch your breath is not easy and so very scary. I had polio at the age of nine - Balbar Polio with is polio in the throat, I looked it up today and for post polio that could be an after effect - but I think it was because I was trying different medicines because nothing works. I had a Miracle when I had the Polio, with prayers, I survived! In the article I read, a survivor of that kind is rare! I was out of the hospital in 5 weeks. I stood up as a junior bridesmaid for my sister's wedding two days after I got home from the hospital! All miracles. I was told by my uncle, Father Benno, who was at Lourdes, to take this Lourdes water by mouth every day, and my Mom or some nurses made sure I did, and I surprised the doctors there how quickly I got over that! Within 5 days in the Oxygen Tent not eating a thing, just vein feedings - I was able to start eating, I was not expected to live! Praise God for His Healing. I had lots of people praying for me - the Great Power of Prayer!!! I relived alot of that reading the article on it.
Sometimes the biggest blessing of the day is that which didn't happen.
Lord, thank You for my ordinary day, a day in which my loved ones
have remained safe and healthy.
Scripture for the day:
"For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast
love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be
removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you." ~Isaiah 54:10
Meditation for the day:
We can make use of our mistakes, failures, losses and sufferings. It is not
what happens to us so much as what use we make of it. We can take our
sufferings, difficulties and hardships and make use of them to help some
unfortunate soul who is faced with the same troubles. Then something good
can come out of our suffering and the world can be a better place because of
it. The good we do each day can live on, after the trouble and distress
have gone, after the difficulty and pain have passed away.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may make good use of my mistakes and failures. I pray that
some good may result from my painful experiences.
A Survival Kit for Marriage
Recently someone shared a letter with me that suggested accumulating the following items--a toothpick, a rubber band, a band aid, a pencil, an eraser, stick of chewing gum, a candy kiss. They are to serve as reminders of what it takes to form good relationships. I see them as a "survival kit" for marriage. Perhaps their accompanying scripture passages might serve as a study guide for the married life.
The Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in your spouse (Matthew 7:1).
The Rubber Band - to remind you to be flexible. God will work things out. (Roman 8:28).
The Band aid - to remind you to heal your hurt feelings or your spouse's (Colossians 3:12-14).
The Pencil - to remind you to list every day the blessings your spouse brings to you (Ephesians 1:3).
The Eraser - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes -- including you and your spouse (Genesis 50:15-21).
Chewing gum - to remind you to stick with it (Philipians 4:13).
Candy Kiss - to remind you your spouse needs a hug each day (1 John 4:7).
"Who is Walking in Our Steps?"
My three year-old was on my heels no matter where I went. Whenever I
stopped to do something and turned back around, I would trip over him.
I patiently suggested fun activities to keep him occupied. But he simply
smiled an innocent smile and said, "Oh that's all right, Mommy. I'd
rather be in here with you." Then he continued to bounce happily along behind me.
After stepping on his toes for the fifth time, I began to lose
patience. When I asked him why he was acting this way, he looked up at me with sweet green eyes and said:
"Well Mommy, my teacher told me to walk in Jesus' footsteps! I can't
see Him, so I'm walking in yours!"
STILL HE WALKED
-- Author Unknown
He could hear the crowds screaming "crucify" "crucify"...
He could hear the hatred in their voices,
These were his chosen people.
He loved them,
And they were going to crucify him.
He was beaten, bleeding and weakened... his heart was broken,
But still He walked.
He could see the crowd as he came from the palace.
He knew each of the faces so well.
He had created them.
He knew every smile, laugh, and shed tear,
But now they were contorted with rage and anger...his heart broke,
But still He walked.
Was he scared?
You and I would have been
So his humanness would have mandated that he was. He felt alone.
His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed him.
He searched the crowd for a loving face and he saw very few.
Then he turned his eyes to the only one that mattered
And he knew that he would never be alone.
He looked back at the crowd, at the people who were spitting
At him, throwing rocks at him and mocking him and he knew
That because of him, they would never be alone.
So for them, He walked.
The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through
The crowd. The sounds of his cries echoed even louder,
The cheers of the crowd, as his hands and feet
Were nailed to the cross, intensified with each blow.
Loudest of all was the still small voice inside his
Heart that whispered "I am with you, my son",
And God's heart broke.
He had let his son walk.
Jesus could have asked God to end his suffering,
But instead he asked God to forgive.
Not to forgive him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting him.
As he hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,
He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,
But also, the face of every person yet to be,
And his heart filled with love.
As his body was dying, his heart was alive.
Alive with the limitless, unconditional love he feels for each of us.
That is why He walked.
When I forget how much My God loves me,
I remember his walk.
When I wonder if I can be forgiven,
I remember his walk.
When I need reminded of how to live like Christ,
I think of his walk.
And to show him how much I love him,
I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to him,
And I walk.
Meditations by Padre Pio
It is necessary to be strong to become great: this is our duty. Life is a struggle from which we cannot withdraw, but we must triumph (CE,33).
Sayings of Mother Teresa
Suffering, If it is accepted together, borne together, is joy.
Remember that the passion of Christ ends always
in the joy of the resurrection of Christ,
so when you feel in your heart the suffering of Christ,
remember the resurrection has to come.
The joy of Easter has to dawn.
Never let anything so fill you with sorrow
as to make you forget the joy of the risen Christ
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