Watch Your Step

 

 My family and I undertook a big project in the backyard this weekend. It was quite literally an "all hands on deck" situation. At the end of the day, I rounded the corner of my house to grab a hose. I was carrying my granddaughter when I mistakenly stepped into a hole left by a talented groundhog. I felt my knee twist as I held onto my granddaughter tight. Fortunately, I was able to keep my balance and not fall. My knee hurt, but it was not a serious injury.

 I was so mad at myself. I knew that stupid hole was there. It was on my "to-do list" to fix. I have managed to avoid it plenty of times in the past month, but this time I was distracted, and my vision was partially obstructed. I had to ask myself, "What was I so busy doing that I couldn't handle this dangerous situation?"

 Sitting on my couch, I remembered one of St. John Bosco's dreams about the boys in his oratory. In his dream, John Bosco saw a large pit in the middle of a meadow and noticed a serpent at the bottom. Its ugliness horrified John Bosco. Then he saw his students jumping over the hole. Some boys jumped over the pit quickly, but not all were so lucky. The serpent got some of them. In disbelief, John Bosco asked the boys why did they keep jumping if they saw what was happening to some of their classmates? The boys didn't think their actions were risky. They didn't perceive the danger of playing near the serpent.

 My children filled the hole for me as I rested. "Wow," my daughter said, "The hole was much deeper than it looked!" It is good that the Lord gave us each other. We need to look out for one another. I encourage everyone to look around their homes and determine if dangerous pitfalls need filling. Not everyone perceives the danger.

-Susan

Going Up?

 

 I recently had the chance to get away on vacation with my family. I love traveling and spending quality time with my children away from our busy daily obligations. After arriving at our resort, we were anxious to take the ski lifts up to the top of the mountain. I love mountain tops and the perspective it has to offer. Remembering that there is so much more to life than my typical vantage point is good. The view from the top was beautiful, and I felt very blessed to have had this moment. After some time, we headed back down. As we descended the ski lift, my blood pressure climbed higher. Halfway down the mountain, I saw a teenage boy climbing out of his seat. He stood on the unprotected chair, turned around, laughed, and waved to his friends in the seat behind him.

 I gasped. "What is that guy doing?' My daughter and I shared a look of disbelief. As his seat passed ours, I couldn't stay silent. "Do you not value your life?" I yelled. My question was met with a laugh and a sarcastic comment. It wasn't long before the ski lift operators caught sight of his foolishness and stopped the lift as they screamed for him to sit down. We were informed at the end of the ride that he would be banned from the ski lift and would be walking down the mountain.

 I couldn't get this incident out of my head. Thank God this teenager did not fall. The question I asked the boy replayed over and over in my thoughts, "Do you not value your life?" This would be a good question for all of us to meditate on this week. Most likely, none of us are blatantly taking chances with our actual lives, but what about our souls? Does God deem any of our actions reckless or careless from His point of view? Let's take some time this week to shut down the ride, look at our decisions from the top of the mountain, and reposition ourselves accordingly.

-Susan

 

Time To Go Outside

 

 I wanted to share the following quote with you.  It is a message from Mary that she gave to the missionary Marija at Medjugorje on May 25, 2023.

  "Dear children! I am calling you to go into nature and pray for the Most High to speak to your heart and that you may feel the power of the Holy Spirit so as to witness the love which God has for every creature."

    Sometimes our life gets too busy, and we forget to do the simplest of things.  Just go for a walk with God.  Look at a tree or a flower like you have never seen one before.  Ask God to open your eyes to the beauty of the world He created.

  Do you remember when you were a kid, and your Mom was tired of seeing you sit inside?  Eventually, your Mom would suggest, "Why don't you go outside and play.  It's a nice day." So let's obey our Mother.  Come on, everyone, let's go outside and play! God's waiting for us!

-Susan

A Lovely Dream

 Linda was struggling to sleep. She tossed and turned, wondering why sleep was evading her. Slowly, Linda began praying her favorite prayer, hoping it would bring her peace. It wasn't long before she found herself sitting on the beach a few feet away from the ocean's edge. Linda felt like a younger version of herself
and noticed some children's toys nearby. She picked up a plastic shovel and filled the sand bucket shaped like a castle turret. As she was building her castle, she heard a voice over her shoulder say, "What are you building?"

 Linda looked over her shoulder and smiled at Jesus as if expecting His company. "Oh, I'm just building a sand castle."

  "That mold will build some good walls for your castle. Could I offer you something better?" Jesus suggested.

 "Sure," Linda said with anticipation. 

 Jesus handed her a flimsy mold in the shape of a heart. Linda looked at the mold and raised her eyebrows. "It looks pretty fragile."

 "It definitely is. Most hearts are. But if you take the time and effort to build something, it should be made with love."

  Linda carefully held the mold in her hand. "But it's so flimsy. Are you sure this will work?"

 "I prefer a heart that is not hardened. It has much more potential to love."

 "But if I use this mold and someone steps on it, it will be easily broken ."

 Jesus smiled and said, "That's true. And when a heart is broken, it is then that I will come and reshape it with my own hands. I will breathe into it and fill it with life. I can't do that with a heart that is hardened. Sharing love is always more important than building walls. Wouldn't you agree?"

 Linda nodded and let the peace of her dream overtake her as she heard Jesus whisper, "Share this with others."

-Susan

#1 Dad

 

 I stood behind a mother with a two-year-old child on her hip at the grocery store checkout line. As I put my groceries on the conveyer belt, I noticed one of the items she was purchasing. It was a basket of goodies with a sign that said, "#1 Dad". I smiled and thought, she probably didn't realize I had the number one Dad! Many of you would argue with me as well. I have no problems with that. I'm glad that so many wonderful fathers are incredible, loving role models for their children. 

 It's not so important who is the best dad as it is which Father is number one in our lives. God the Father, of course, should be number one in our lives every day! We are blessed to have a Father who loves us completely and is always by our side. Today make time to spend with God. Mentally picture Him next to you throughout your life-the good days and the bad days. Spend some quiet time immersed in His love. You will forever be the child He always wanted and dreamed of having. He just couldn't imagine a world without you.

-Susan  

Jumpimg for Joy

 

 My children and grandchildren love to jump on our trampoline. They can do flips and toe touches and all sorts of acrobatics. My granddaughter will chant, “Come on, GG, jump higher like everyone else!”

   I always smile and say, “It’s better for my body if I do smaller jumps. I’m not as young as you.”   Our bodies have limitations, especially as we age, but what about the Body of Christ? Do we willingly or unwillingly limit what the body of Christ can do in our lives?

  I love the Eucharist! I know my life wouldn’t be the same without it. But I wonder if it could be even more than I have allowed it to be? Receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus is foremost in my mind during Mass. Can I honestly say that the Eucharist is foremost in my thoughts for the rest of the week? My faith is my backbone, my heart, and often my thoughts. I repeatedly feel, however, that Jesus wants all of me and not just part of me. 

  Perhaps it’s not only my granddaughter who wants me to jump higher. I think it would make Jesus happier if I didn’t worry so much about my fears and shortcomings and relied entirely on the strength of His Body. With my arms stretched out to heaven and willing to do His Will, I  could reach heights I never thought possible. The Body of Christ isn’t just for Sundays; it is for every minute of every day afterward. After receiving the Eucharist, we should bend our knees and jump for joy because it is the Body of Christ; if we allow it, that will catapult us toward eternal happiness. 

-Susan

The Beauty of the Holy Trinity

 

 Some people don't love mystery and intrigue. They want everything to fit inside a labeled box with clearly defined definitions and perimeters. The Holy Trinity is a mystery that goes far beyond our understanding, and I'm okay with that. I will spend my life chasing the mystery of the Holy Trinity, knowing I will never learn all there is to know, but just enthralled with every little new clue revealed to me!

 I enjoy hiking with my family, especially in the mountains. When you are walking, the world's natural beauty is all around you. It's peaceful and quiet. You know your surroundings because you don't want to take the wrong path mistakenly. Even if you are tired or hot, you just keep going because you know this path will be incredible in the end! Whether it is a mountaintop view of the world or a breathtaking waterfall, the trail's future is more than your senses can take in.

 This is how I see the Holy Trinity. It is a beautiful, mysterious adventure. Even though I cannot comprehend the Trinity nor the path He will lead me down, I can feel the beauty of His Love all around me. Whether I am conversing with God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit, I speak with a God who is Love itself. And no matter how tired I am, I thirst for Him. Of course, I am just a small child with little thoughts, and I'm okay with that because when the time is right, God will reveal His magnificence so that I can comprehend how mighty He truly is. So, for now, I will follow all God's clues allowing this quest to shape my future for tomorrow and all eternity!

-Susan