Let's Go!

 

  Just days before my nephew's wedding, I received a text from my sister. Need prayers to St. Anthony. The groom's ring has been lost! I texted back, "I'll go visit St. Anthony right now." I looked at my two prayer warriors sitting next to me. "Come on, girls, we need to pray with St. Anthony!" I quickly explained the situation to my one-year-old and three-year-old granddaughters.

 "Let's go!" said Isabella, and the three of us headed for the backyard.

  I began the prayer with, "Hi, baby Jesus! Hi St. Anthony, we need your help!" The girls listened while I talked with baby Jesus and St. Anthony. Finally, I finished with "Amen."

 Isabella looked at me and said, "I think we should pray a little more." Of course, I was more than happy to oblige. 

 The next day I received another message--the ring had been found! I shared the good news with Isabella. Her eyes got so big with amazement as she exclaimed, "It worked! Our prayers worked!!"

 I'm sharing this story because I think it's important to pray with each other and for each other. If there are children in your life, let them hear you pray. Let them know God wants to be a part of their daily lives! Prayer doesn't have to happen just at bedtime, or a meal, or during Mass. As children of God, we are blessed with the privilege to talk with God anytime, anywhere. Praying not only connects us to God, but it also connects us to one another, including the saints in heaven. It is through prayer that we resemble small children. We stretch out our hands, and our soul screams, "Up!" Our loving Father reaches down, picks us up as He wraps His arms around us, and holds us close. Prayer allows us to rise up regardless of how God chooses to answer our prayers.

 This week let your enthusiasm for prayer go unchecked. "Let's go!" climb into your Father's arms and let Him love you and all those you keep in your prayers.

-Susan

Do You See It?

   As I walked through the park, I saw this fun pattern on the path. It’s frustrating when others don’t see things the same way. My dog had no interest in it. He was too focused on his dream of catching a squirrel. Other people walked right passed it, busy with family and friends. I was fascinated with it.  It looked like a piece of art, but there was much more to this black and white picture. I realized I only saw a small part of the picture because I focused on the ground. I didn't look up. 

 Once I did look up, my whole perspective changed. I could see the sun's brilliance as it poured its light through the branches of the trees. I realized I initially only saw a tiny portion of the beauty surrounding me. My eyes were fixed on the ground instead of heaven. 

 I fear I make this mistake more often than I admit. God's Plan isn't always clear to me because I'm looking in the wrong direction. I tend to focus on the details in front of me rather than trying to see the bigger picture. I need to trust God because I can't always see through the trees, and sometimes leaves unknowingly filter out the light around me. Loving God is more than a beautiful image to behold. Loving God requires the heart, the mind, and the soul to search for the Truth. It also requires sacrifice and sometimes standing alone. 

 Definitely look for God's beauty while traveling the road of discipleship. However, keeping your chin up is also a good idea, so you do not miss the eternal vision God has planned for you. 

-Susan

And My Heart Soars

The beauty of the trees, 

the softness of the air, the fragrance

of the grass speaks to me.

The summit of the mountain,

the thunder of the sky, 

the rhythm of the sea speaks to me.

The strength of the fire, the

taste of the salmon, the trail of

the sun, and the life that never

goes away, they speak to me.

And my heart soars.

-Chief Dan George Tslei-Waututh

 

  I saw this poem while on vacation this past week. It just really hit home. Summer is a great time to rediscover how incredibly beautiful God made this world. I am just in awe! I watched a deer gently descending towards the edge of the river, turtles bobbing their heads above the water before diving down, and a red tail hawk flying overhead while kayaking. It felt like a creation prayer enfolding in front of me. I felt very blessed to be wrapped up in this prayer.

 You don't even have to leave your own yard to experience the beauty of God. His beauty is all around us. So be sure to slow down long enough this summer to take a stroll with God and let Him open your senses to His creative power. 

-Susan

That's Alarming

 

  Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a few days visiting with my sister. One night my sister made dinner reservations at a beautiful restaurant along the river. We had been checking the radar all day because there had been a forty percent chance of rain later in the evening. However, the sun was shining when we were seated at our outdoor table, and we took our time ordering to enjoy the beautiful evening. We had just finished our salads when everyone's phones simultaneously raised a blaring alarm. My sister looked down at her phone. "You've got to be kidding! A tornado was spotted about 30 minutes away. A severe thunderstorm and tornado warning are now in effect!"

 We looked around. It had become cloudier, but still, there was no rain. Just as our entrees were served, so was the rain. Fortunately, the wait staff could make room for us inside the restaurant. The storm blew through as we finished our meal, clearing the city streets.

 Often life's storms can completely blindside us. A financial or health crisis, loss of a loved one, or a betrayal can knock us off our feet. Our perspective may be very cloudy while the storm rages around us. Unfortunately, no phone alarms warn us to take cover and move to safety as life unravels. So how can we protect ourselves? We can't. Pain, in some form or another, is a part of everyone's life. It can't be avoided, but there is something you can do today to ease the storms in your life. Take the time to build up your relationship with God today. Prayer guides us along God's path. We may have to walk through some dark stretches, but we will walk with God. Having an active prayer life doesn't take away the pain of the storm. Still, it teaches us to call out to God amid our sufferings and trust Him to direct our steps, whether it lasts days, weeks, or even years. God will never abandon us.

 We were fortunate that the tornado changed its course that night. We didn't, however, avoid the thunderstorm. The rain pelted us as we ran the ten blocks back to my sister's place. We were dripping wet when we finally arrived, but we were safe. That storm was only a minor inconvenience. It wasn't life-altering. But what has been life-altering for me is my prayer life. It has gotten me through some very dark times. I know it will do the same for you.

-Susan