Hello my friends! Today's blessings first of all - beautiful day all day! We ate our brunch this morning in the patio, we could spend some time out there this afternoon too, and watch the birds which is so relaxing! Then we were invited out for supper to our friends, Ray and Ann, and had the most enjoyable evening with them. After supper we watched a movie Ann got from our Church Library - on Mary. It was great!!! Praying for you all and have a great Monday!
Give yourself more exercise than jumping to conclusions. Lord, grant
me sincerity and wisdom in my daily life.
Scripture for the day:
You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ~James 2:8
Meditation for the day:
I can prepare myself by doing each day what I can to develop spiritually and
to help others to do so. Events in my life can test me, train me and bend
me to God's will. If I am not properly trained, I cannot meet the test when
it comes. I can want God's will for me above all else.
I need not expect to have what I am not prepared for. This preparation
consists of quiet communion with God every day and gradually gaining the
strength I need.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may really try to do God's will in all my affairs. I pray
that I may do all I can to help others find God's will for them.
WHEN THE WORLD FORGETS...
who you are,
to share your pain,
to be kind,
to be compassionate,
to smile,
to lift a helping hand,
the sick,
the lonely,
the frazzled, worn, caretaker,
to understand,
to love,
to say "Good Morning",
to let us remember,
to say, "I Love You",
to let us forget,
to say, "Good Night",
to show they care,
to be our friend,
to listen,
to hear,
to speak,
to give gifts of kindness,
to always be there for us,
...God always remembers.
~~Author Unknown~~
Jack tossed the papers on my desk -- his eyebrows knit into a straight line
as he glared at me. "What's wrong?" I asked.
He jabbed a finger at the proposal. "Next time you want to change anything,
ask me first," he said, turning on his heels and leaving me stewing in
anger. How dare he treat me like that, I thought. I had changed one long
sentence, and corrected grammar -- something I thought I was paid to do.
It's not that I hadn't been warned. The other women, who had served in my
place before me, called him names I couldn't repeat. One co-worker took me
aside the first day. "He's personally responsible for two different
secretaries leaving the firm," she whispered.
As the weeks went by, I grew to despise Jack. It was against everything I
believed in -- turn the other cheek and love your enemies. But Jack quickly
slapped a verbal insult on any cheek turned his way. I prayed about it, but
to be honest, I wanted to put him in his place, not love him.
One day, another of his episodes left me in tears. I stormed into his
office, prepared to lose my job if needed, but not before I let the man know
how I felt. I opened the door and Jack glanced up.
"What?" he said abruptly.
Suddenly I knew what I had to do. After all, he deserved it. I sat across
from him. "Jack, the way you've been treating me is wrong. I've never had
anyone speak to me that way. As a professional, it's wrong, and it's wrong
for me to allow it to continue," I said.
Jack snickered nervously and leaned back in his chair. I closed my eyes
briefly. God help me, I prayed. "I want to make you a promise. I will be a
friend," I said. "I will treat you as you deserve to be treated, with
respect and kindness. You deserve that," I said. "Everybody does." I slipped
out of the chair and closed the door behind me.
Jack avoided me the rest of the week. Proposals, specs, and letters appeared
on my desk while I was at lunch, and the corrected versions were not seen
again. I brought cookies to the office one day and left a batch on Jack's
desk. Another day I left a note. "Hope your day is going great," it read.
Over the next few weeks, Jack reappeared. He was reserved, but there were no
other episodes. Co-workers cornered me in the break room.
"Guess you got to Jack," they said. "You must have told him off good."
I shook my head. "Jack and I are becoming friends," I said in faith.
I refused to talk about him. Every time I saw Jack in the hall, I smiled at
him. After all, that's what friends do.
One year after our "talk," I discovered I had breast cancer. I was 32, the
mother of three beautiful young children, and scared. The cancer had
metastasized to my lymph nodes and the statistics were not great for
long-term survival. After surgery, I visited with friends and loved ones who
tried to find the right words to say. No one knew what to say. Many said the
wrong things . Others wept, and I tried to encourage them. I clung to hope.
The last day of my hospital stay, the door darkened and Jack stood awkwardly
on the threshold. I waved him in with a smile and he walked over to my bed
and, without a word, placed a bundle beside me. Inside lay several bulbs.
"Tulips," he said.
I smiled, not understanding.
He cleared his throat. "If you plant them when you get home, they'll come up
next Spring." He shuffled his feet. "I just wanted you to know that I think
you'll be there to see them when they come up."
Tears clouded my eyes and I reached out my hand. "Thank you," I whispered.
Jack grasped my hand and gruffly replied, "You're welcome. You can't see it
now, but next Spring you'll see the colors I picked out for you." He turned
and left without a word.
I have seen those red and white striped tulips push through the soil every
Spring for over ten years now. In fact, this September the doctor will
declare me cured. I've seen my children graduate from high school and enter
college. In a moment when I prayed for just the right word, a man with very
few words said all the right things. After all, that's what friends do.
Meditations by Padre Pio
Temptations against faith and purity are the merchandise offered by the
enemy, but do not fear him, rather, despise him. As long as he makes an
uproar it is a sign that he has not yet possessed the will. Don't be upset
by what you experience through the work of this rebellious angel. Let your
will always be contrary to his suggestions, and live tranquilly, because you
are not at fault, but rather, you please God and gain progress for your soul
(Letters III p426).
Mother Teresa's Rules & Beliefs to incorporate
Mother Teresa The dying, the cripple, the mental, the unwanted, the unloved
they are Jesus in disguise.
Mother Teresa Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little
things is a great thing.
Mother Teresa It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the
doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.
Mother Teresa Nakedness is not only for a piece of clothing; nakedness is
lack of human dignity, and also that beautiful virtue of purity, and lack of
that respect for each other.
Mother Teresa There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in
our lives - the pain, the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize
it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them.
Mother Teresa Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, for God
speaks in the silence of the heart.
Mother Teresa Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your face, in
your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a
cheerful smile. Don't only give your care, but give your heart as well.
Mother Teresa The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you
give. But the less you have the more free you are. Poverty for us is a
freedom. It is not a mortification, a penance. It is joyful freedom. There
is no television here, no this, no that. But we are perfectly happy.
Mother Teresa If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor
disgrace, because you know what you are.
Mother Teresa Do not allow yourselves to be disheartened by any failure as
long as you have done your best.
Mother Teresa There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is
important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I've always said we
should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim,
a Catholic become a better Catholic.
Mother Teresa If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive.
Mother Teresa It is a poverty to decide that an unborn child must die so
that you may live as you like.
Mother Teresa If we pray, we will believe; If we believe, we will love; If
we love, we will serve.
Mother Teresa We can do no great things; only small things with great love.
Mother Teresa You and I, we are the Church, no? We have to share with our
people. Suffering today is because people are hoarding, not giving, not
sharing. Jesus made it very clear. Whatever you do to the least of my
brethren, you do it to me. Give a glass of water, you give it to me. Receive
a little child, you receive me. Clear.
Mother Teresa Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for
helping us to love God better because of them.
Mother Teresa Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those people throughout the
world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands,
this day, their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give them peace
and joy.
Mother Teresa Give me courage.
Mother Teresa I must do something.
Mother Teresa Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only
today. Let us begin.
Mother Teresa Let's do something beautiful for God.
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