Is The Static Getting To You?

 

  My daughter came in from outside, plopped down on the couch, saying. "Mom, there is something wrong with the radio in my car.  It's all static.  I don't know what to do.  I really don't need to deal with another problem right now."  

 My advice was not very helpful:  "You'll have to have someone look at it and determine whether it can be fixed or if you need to have it replaced."

 "Do you know how annoying it is to just hear static?"

 My daughter's question lingered with me for a while.  Sometimes, the world's noise can get to us, especially when praying.  How do we tune into God amidst all the distractions around us? Just like turning a radio to a specific frequency, tuning into God means focusing our thoughts and prayers on Him, blocking out the 'static' of the world. Some days, this can be a real struggle. If the station you're tuned into has static, don't be afraid to try a new channel.  You don't always have to listen to the 'Oldies' station. Discover a saint you are unfamiliar with and see what prayer they like singing.  Tune into a meditation. Psalm, or Christian artist.

 Sometimes, finding a quiet spot to be with God can be helpful.  Rest your head on His shoulder and say nothing at all.  Let His love permeate and rejuvenate you.  Don't let your relationship with God go static; allow it to be dynamic. Spending Eternity with God isn't just for the future.  Eternity can begin right here, right now.  We just need to tune into God.

-Susan

  

Getting To The Heart Of The Story

 

   

  Helen entered the kitchen as a loud discussion ended between her daughter and fourteen-year-old granddaughter. Her daughter, red in the face, exclaimed, "As long as you live in my house, you are going." She quickly brushed past Helen.  Fourteen-year-old Brooke defiantly sulked in her chair.  She barely noticed Helen sitting down at the table.

 "Brooke, could you pass the sugar my way?"  Without speaking or even looking, Brooke slid the sugar to her grandma.  Helen took a spoonful of sugar and stirred it in her coffee.  She looked at her granddaughter and then said, "You know, there was a time I didn't want to go to church either,"

 "Did your mom make you go, too?"

 "Yes, she did. I even told her I wouldn't go once I moved out."

 Surprised, Brooke turned toward her grandma and said, "What did she say to that?"

 "Nothing, but I saw her eyes fill up with tears.  I knew I had hurt her.  I felt bad. Then, about a week later, she told me this story.  She said her mother gave her a beautiful glass heart when she was young. Her mother said it was priceless because she had poured all her love into it. A few months later, my grandma died.  At first, my mother just placed the heart on a shelf, and from time to time, she looked at it and thought of her mother.

 Then, one day, my mother became very sick, and the doctors thought she would die.  She felt so lost that she picked up the heart from the shelf and placed it in her pocket.  It wasn't until she carried that heart with her every day that she began to feel the waves of love throughout her whole being.  That love strengthened her, guided her, and comforted her.  She began viewing her circumstances differently.  She viewed others differently.  She carried that heart with her all her days."

 "Did she die?" Brooke asked.

 "No.  To everyone's surprise, my mother got better. She always claimed that love healed her."

 "Her mother's love healed her?" Brooke asked.

 "No.  My mother said her whole life changed one day at Mass. After receiving Holy Communion, she realized that if she could feel her mother's love from this crystal heart in her pocket, how much more love could there be in the host she had just consumed. She told me before that day she had faith, but it was just something nice to look at occasionally.  It wasn't until she opened her heart to Jesus in the Eucharist that she started living her faith.  As I said, her whole life changed.  Love healed her."

 "Wow, that's quite a story, Grandma," Brooke said.

 "Yes.  After my mother told me this story, she slid that crystal heart over to me.  I had tears in my eyes this time as I placed it in my pocket. The next time I went to Mass, I asked Jesus to let me feel his love, too.  My whole life changed."  Helen reached into her pocket and slid the heart over to Brooke. "Brooke, Love can heal you, too. I would love it if this was your story, too."

 With tears in her eyes, Brooke placed the heart in her pocket.  She kissed her grandma on the forehead and said. "I'm going to go get ready for church, Grandma.  Tell Mom to wait for me."

-Susan

 

A Song of Inspiration!

  

 Recently, my daughter shared a cute story with me. She told me that my 3-year-old granddaughter had made up a song about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. "For about five minutes, she was just walking around singing this song she had made up. It was amazing!" I can't even begin to describe how happy this made me. My heart was filled with joy. At three years old, my granddaughter is already responding to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit!

  Moments like this reinforce the incredible graces we receive at our Baptism.  We should never underestimate the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit.  Although most of us celebrate the day of our birth, I wonder if we shouldn't also celebrate the day of our Baptism. We should all celebrate becoming children of God!  We should continue to remind ourselves how blessed we are and the extraordinary generosity of our loving Father. Is once a year often enough? Let's start today by raising a glass and shouting from the rooftops, "The Holy Spirit dwells in me! Alleluia!" And then allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to sing of His greatness, filling your heart with joy and faith!

-Susan

A Sweet Epiphany

 

  I have a brown chest next to baby Jesus in his manger at Christmas.  Inside the chest is a bottle of frankincense, a bottle of myrrh, and a smaller chest with gold coins. Scripture tells us these gifts were brought by the Magi to baby Jesus. My grandkids love to open these chests and view the gifts.  My granddaughter likes to tell me that frankincense doesn't smell good.  The box of gold coins, however, fascinates them.  I have seen them run around the house with them several times, passing out the coins to each other.

 The day after Christmas, I found some gold coins left behind on a bookshelf.  I picked them up to put them back in the small chest.  When I opened the chest, I started to laugh.  Mixed in with the gold coins were M&Ms.  Apparently, my grandchildren had found my hidden stash!

 Traditionally, M&M's were not among the gifts given to baby Jesus (probably because they did not exist yet). But I wondered if this might be a new tradition for my family. The M&Ms could represent how sweet Jesus makes our lives. Jesus, our anointed, high priest King, is my sweet Savior! I felt blessed and overjoyed to have my grandchildren unveil this Epiphany to me!

-Susan

  

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

 

 

  Here is some sound advice as we begin the New Year.

"There are two things I want you to do-keep close to Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist and stay close to His Mother.  With those two loves, you will always have the light to see what is right and what is wrong."

-Mother Angelica 

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! (It's Not Over Yet)

 

 

 I hope you all had a wonder-filled Christmas and continue to stand in awe in front of the manger. In the past, I have heard coworkers remark that they took down all their Christmas decorations on December 26th, exclaiming that Christmas was over. But it's not.  Christmas is a season. Could one day be enough to marvel and thank God for the birth of Jesus?  Could one lifetime be enough to thank God for loving us so much?

  I don't think so. Continue to dive into the rich mysteries surrounding Christ's birth. The birth of a child is only the beginning; it's not the end.  Keep growing in Christ's love.  Sit next to Mary and let the face of Jesus melt your heart.  Stand next to Joseph and learn how to protect the love of God from being destroyed by the world.

  Although the world may view December 25th as a singular day, I believe it was the day that changed the world forever. This is only the beginning!

-Susan

Picked Fron The Fields-An Advent Story, The Conclusion

 The shepherds made many trips to visit Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. The moment Abigail’s feet entered the cave, she felt as if she had left the world behind. All her worries and fears vanished as she experienced overwhelming love. She cherished every moment sitting next to Mary and Jesus, her heart filled with awe, reverence, and love.  

  She had never met anyone like Mary before.  She was the mother of the Messiah, but was so humble and caring. Each time they visited, Mary would share scripture with Nathan.  Her knowledge of God was not only impressive but deeply personal. While listening to Mary, you couldn’t help but love God.   And when Mary prayed with Jesus in her arms, it was incredible! It was not the words she spoke but the Presence Abigail felt. It was as if she was experiencing the exchange of love between Mary and the Lord. It was powerful, and Abigail’s heart inflamed with pure love, a love that would forever change her faith.

  Then, one day, Joseph announced to Levi that it was time for them to leave. They were going to the Temple for the purification rites and to present Jesus to the Lord according to the Law. Afterward, Joseph and Mary planned to return to their home in Nazareth.  Abigail knew this day would come, but that did not lessen the pain she was feeling. Nathan cried the tears they were all feeling, his sobs echoing the collective sorrow.  As they said their final goodbyes, Mary asked Nathan to continue learning the scriptures and praying as she had taught him.  Nathan agreed, saying, “Could I just have one more chance to pray next to baby Jesus before you leave?”  Mary smiled and allowed Nathan to kneel next to Jesus one last time, the emotional weight of the moment palpable in the air.

   Levi, Abigail, and Nathan walked home a little slower that day. Their lives were forever changed.  They may still look like poor shepherds but never see themselves as poor again.  They knew they were blessed and loved by God.  They knew the Messiah would soon change the world.  As they walked, Nathan said, “Mom, when I was praying with Jesus, he told me I didn’t need to be sad.  Jesus told me he was coming back one day.  Jesus told me to keep praying and be prepared for that day.  He will call out my name, and I should drop what I’m doing and follow him. I told him I’ll be ready.”

-Susan