Miracle of Grace

A road through vineyards led me
To where I found God's grace
It met me in abundance there
Before I left that space

A humble priest behind a veil
Softly spoke God's will
Kneeling in the shadows there
I listened, my heart still

The abundance of the Sacrament
Fills this heart of mine
I came broken, in despair
But left in joy sublime

Peace rested in my soul that day
It fills me even now
A miracle was wrought in me
God's endless healing power

Thank you, Father Xavier
For being there that day
And thank you, Holy Spirit
For the kindness of your ways

Choose Life

My heart longs to save life on this planet. Tiny, sweet, innocent life, fresh and new, full of hope, just beginning. Each time a sperm and egg unite, a new being, with its own DNA and fingerprints, is created, unique from its father and mother. The fingerprint of God is stamped anew on humanity.

"Abortion is the biggest lie perpetrated on women in our culture today," said the woman sitting across from me many years ago. (My children were babies then.) I had never thought of it that way, and her strong statement startled me. That brief second in the history of my life began a journey which has culminated in, other than motherhood, the most important work I will ever do: saving the unborn and helping women avoid the lie. I have just begun to fight, and I pray the Lord will graciously continue His work through me in whatever small way I can contribute.

Tomorrow I will visit a counseling center for women in crisis pregnancies. I will report back on the miracles being wrought there. :)

"Being confident of this: that He who began a good work in you will carry it forward to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 (one of my "life verses")

Do It Anyway

This is the prayer Mother Teresa kept on her wall. It is the one she read at the beginning of each day. It no doubt inspired her to keep going, in spite of many obstacles. It does the same for me (immensely!), and here it is for you:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Be successful anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, others may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it will be between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

I have written about my affinity for Mother Teresa here. Her works of charity and great love inspire and move me. But the words she so cherished in this prayer teach me something new: I may be exactly where God wants me to be, and things may still go wrong. I may live out my call to Christ in the best way I know how, and what I do may be destroyed. This doesn't mean I'm wrong; it merely means I must press on all the more. Thank you, Blessed Mother Teresa - you continue to teach even now!

Unexpected Gift

Thank you, God, for the gift I received just now. Billy, my youngest son, on the cusp of his first day as a senior in high school, said I was the finest person he'd ever met (because I'm "so nice and trustworthy and everything"). He also reminded me that whatever good thing he becomes, it's in part because of me. I didn't expect this (how could one?), and I am filled with surprised gratitude. I certainly don't deserve it, but here it is. (He also said his dad is the hardest working person he knows. :)

Parenting is interesting. You stumble along, aware of all your imperfections in the process, knowing full well that you could have (and should have) done a much better job. Yet, somehow, despite all that, love comes back to us. God allows us the privilege to participate in shaping His creation. How generous He is!

Thank you, God, just thank you. And please bless both my sons, Bobby and Billy, and parents and children everywhere. May we reflect your love in the love we share with one another.