Hello my friends! Today is eleven years since we moved here in our house - I love it here! It's been a good eleven years and hoping for another good eleven!! Living here has been a good blessing - we met our best friends, Ray and Ann here, and it's closer to Lori - another blessing! Like now - she's coming over to talk over things about our 50th Wedding Anniversary party - who to invite etc. etc. it will be held right here in our garage and house, and we'll have a tarp for the yard. Maybe about 60 people. Where to draw the line should be discussed. We already have it scheduled for the 10:30 Mass in our Parish to have a special blessing - and I called Fr. Jerry and he'll do the Mass for us and the Blessing and come on over for the celebration. We're going to his 50th Jubilee in June! That will be a big one! Praying for you all and especially for all you who need healings! Continue prayers for Darla, haven't heard anything new. They are trying to contact her co-workers too - what the heck for? She feels they are ruining her career. She's up for tenure, and this might make it not happen! So people, please pray for a MIRACLE! Thank you so much!!!
Each day there are lessons to learn and lives to touch. Lord, You
have done so much for me. Help me to repay You.
Scripture for the day:
"And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all
peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up
death forever. Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all
faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the
earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is
our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the
LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his
salvation." ~Isaiah 25:7-9
Meditation for the day:
We can live today in the consciousness of God's contact, upholding us in
all good thoughts, words and deeds. If sometimes there seems to be a
shadow on our lives and we feel out of sorts, we can remember that this
is not the withdrawal of God's presence, but only our own temporary
unwillingness to realize it. The quiet gray days are the days for doing
what we must do, but we can know that the consciousness of God's
nearness will return and be with us again, when the gray days are past.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may face the dull days with courage. I pray that I may
have faith that the bright days will return.
A CONTRACT WITH JESUS
O JESUS! my Savior, I desire above all things to show my love for Thee and
for my neighbor, loved by Thee; to praise Thee as far as lies within my
power and to make Thy Kingdom come amongst men. Therefore, I make the
following contract. I shall try to remain faithful to it to the end of my
life.
WHEREAS: FIRST I propose in my EVERY LOOK to consecrate myself entirely to
Thee, to see Thee through the eyes of faith, in all creatures and in all
things of earth.
SECOND I propose in EVERY THROB OF MY HEART to prove that I love Thee enough
to detach myself from sin and its occasions; and in all my human loves to
love them through Thee.
THIRD I propose that EVERY BREATH I breathe shall be in praise of Thee, my
Giver of Eternal Life. O, breathe Thy Grace abundantly upon my heart, and on
all men's hearts, thereby to establish Thy Reign amongst us.
FOURTH I propose, finally, O my Jesus, in every act of my soul and in every
action of my body, to unite with Thee in Thy Sacrifice of love on Calvary
and in Thy continued Sacrifice in all the Masses that have been, are being,
or will be celebrated, all the merits of Thy Passion and Death, and the
merits for all of us in the holy life and sufferings of Thy Blessed Mother
and of all the Saints. Accept these offerings, O Merciful Jesus, in
adoration of Thy Divine Majesty, as reparation for all sins, as thanksgiving
for all of God's gifts and graces, for the conversion of infidels and
sinners, for the perseverance of the just and the deliverance of the Souls
in Purgatory.
O JESUS, deign to accept and confirm this contract. Amen.
BEATITUDES FOR THE HOME
BLESSED are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate,
considerate and loving after the wedding bells have ceased ringing.
BLESSED are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one
another as they are to their friends.
BLESSED are they who have a sense of humor, for this attribute will be a
handy shock absorber.
BLESSED are they who love their mates more than any other person in the
world and who joyfully fulfill their marriage vows of lifetime of fidelity
and mutual helpfulness to one another.
BLESSED are they who attain parenthood, for children are a heritage of the
Lord.
BLESSED are they who remember to thank God for their food before they
partake of it, and who set apart some time each day for the reading of the
Bible and for prayer.
BLESSED are those mates who never speak loudly to one another and who make
their home a place where "seldom is heard a discouraging word".
BLESSED are the husband and wife who work together for the advancement of
Messiah's Kingdom.
BLESSED is the couple who has a complete understanding about financial
matters and who has worked out a perfect partnership with all money under
the control of both.
BLESSED are the husband and wife who humbly dedicate their lives and their
home to Messiah and practice His teachings in the home by being unselfish,
loyal, and loving.
Author Unknown
The Right Moves
One day, many years ago, when I was working as a psychologist at a
children's institution in England, an adolescent boy showed up in the
waiting room. I went out there where he was walking up and down restlessly.
I showed him into my office and pointed to the chair on the other side of my
desk. It was in late autumn, and the lilac bush outside the window had shed
all its leaves. "Please sit down," I said.
David wore a black rain coat that was buttoned all the way up to his neck.
His face was pale, and he stared at his feet while wringing his hands
nervously. He had lost his father as an infant, and had lived together with
his mother and grandfather since. But the year before David turned 13, his
grandfather died and his mother was killed in a car accident. Now he was 14
and in family care.
His head teacher had referred him to me. "This boy," he wrote, "is
understandably very sad and depressed. He refuses to talk to others and I'm
very worried about him. Can you help?"
I looked at David. How could I help him? There are human tragedies
psychology doesn't have the answer to, and which no words can describe.
Sometimes the best thing one can do is to listen openly and sympathetically.
The first two times we met, David didn't say a word. He sat hunched up in
the chair and only looked up to look at the children's drawings on the wall
behind me. As he was about to leave after the second visit, I put my hand on
his shoulder. He didn't shrink back, but he didn't look at me either.
"Come back next week, if you like," I said. I hesitated a bit. Then I said,
"I know it hurts."
He came, and I suggested we play a game of chess. He nodded. After that we
played chess every Wednesday afternoon - in complete silence and without
making any eye contact. It's not easy to cheat in chess, but I admit that I
made sure David won once or twice.
Usually, he arrived earlier than agreed, took the chessboard and pieces from
the shelf and began setting them up before I even got a chance to sit down.
It seemed as if he enjoyed my company. But why did he never look at me?
"Perhaps he simply needs someone to share his pain with," I thought.
"Perhaps he senses that I respect his suffering." One afternoon in late
winter, David took off his rain coat and put it on the back of the chair.
While he was setting up the chess pieces, his face seemed more alive and his
motions more lively.
Some months later, when the lilacs blossomed outside, I sat starring at
David's head, while he was bent over the chessboard. I thought about how
little we know about therapy - about the mysterious process associated with
healing. Suddenly, he looked up at me.
"It's your turn," he said.
After that day, David started talking. He got friends in school and joined a
bicycle club. He wrote to me a few times ("I'm biking with some friends and
I feel great"); letters about how he would try to get into university. After
some time, the letters stopped. Now he had really started to live his own
life.
Maybe I gave David something. At least I learned a lot from him. I learned
how time makes it possible to overcome what seems to be an insuperable pain.
I learned to be there for people who need me. And David showed me how one -
without any words - can reach out to another person. All it takes is a hug,
a shoulder to cry on, a friendly touch, a sympathetic nature - and an ear
that listens.
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure
ecstasy.
When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps. Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and
pout... run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them
gently.
The Soul of Man
Every man has a deep heart need
That can't be filled with doctrine or creed,
For the soul of man knows nothing more
Than just that he is longing for
A haven that is safe and sure,
A fortress where he feels secure,
An island in this sea of strife,
Away from all the storms of life.
Oh God of love, who sees us all,
You are so great! We are so small!
Hear man's universal prayer,
Crying to You in deep despair,
“Save my soul and grant me peace!
Let my restless murmurings cease!
“God of love, forgive! Forgive!
Teach me how to truly live.
Ask me not my race or creed;
Just take me in my hour of need.
Let me feel You love me, too,
And that I am a part of You.”
--Helen Steiner Rice
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