Okay, so maybe I spoke too soon about feeling so great, but maybe also too I overdid it yesterday. Perhaps it was Grace's soccer game at 8:20am in the tundra of Kansas that did me in, but I got hit hard with a headache and was on the couch the rest of the day. This morning after 13 hours in bed I could have slept another 10 but forced myself out and down the stairs. By the time we were getting ready for church I thought I wouldn't make it but felt God's presence telling me that I could. I did make it and had such a wonderful time being with Him. I felt Him so strongly today and it was an added bonus that it was Divine Mercy Sunday. The second reading especially made me smile and cry at the same time...
1 Peter 1: 3 - 9
who by God's power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
It's all about having faith and trust. Unfortunately we all must suffer trials in our lives, or be tested by fire but it gives me such joy to know that it is not wasted or of no use to me or anyone else. Suffering doesn't just happen for no reason, it happens for your salvation. I can actually be responsible for helping someone go to heaven. If that is not accomplishing something I don't what is. How many of us would love to get just one thing accomplished in our day? I've also realized that it' s not just in our sufferings that we can obtain salvation but it's in our actions. Our goal or perhaps question each day when we wake up in the morning is "How can I bring someone to God's Kingdom today"? How can I let go of my needs and help someone else? How can I serve?
Okay, sorry to go on like that but like I said, I felt God 's presence today and I can never stay quite about that!
The rest of the week includes another echocardiogram tomorrow, two more rounds of PT, an acupuncture treatment (really excited about this) and chemo. Having cancer really is a full time job! Hal's parents arrive on Thursday which will give me time to rest. We are all excited about Zoe doing the reading at all school mass on Friday. She is so excited but also nervous. I really don't think she will even need to bring the reading up to the altar with her as she should have it memorized by now!
Another big hug and abundant thanks to all of you who are wanting to help our family. The amount of love is overwhelming and so appreciated! Thanks to Sarah and Linda for revamping my calendar and "taking over". Everyone have a fabulous week and remember to help someone get to the kingdom today! Love, Ann
2 comments:
Oh Ann, I am always amazed by your awesome strength! I have a word for you today:
Grace in which we stand, and...tribulation [that] produces perseverance. - Romans 5:2-3
There are two things you can count on as you walk with God: trouble that works for you, and grace to stand while you're going through it. Have you been praying for patience? Get ready for trouble! There's no other way to get it. Patience grows in the soil of adversity. How do you test the strength of an anchor? Expose it to the fury of a storm. Understand this: some of the people you can't stand right now are the very ones who'll mature you! Our problem is - we pray for things but don't recognise the answer when it comes. God has a purpose in all things, He also has a process. As you get to know Him better you begin to recognize both. Here's how it works: you ask God for strength and He allows you to go through times of testing. You ask for wisdom and you get to deal with problems that require solutions. You ask for success and He gives you the ability to work - not necessarily harder, but smarter. You ask for favour and He gives you responsibility. Salvation is a gift, but patience is a reward for overcoming.
So stay where God has you today and learn the lessons He wants to teach you; tomorrow you'll be glad you did!
I love you friend. You are always on my heart and in my prayers.
Connie
My love,
I want to share these words of Jesus revealed to St. Faustina...
Jesus said "My child, make the resolution never to rely on people. Entrust yourself completely to My will saying, "Not as I want, but according to Your will, O God, let it be done unto me." These words, spoken from the depths of one's heart, can raise a soul to the summit of sanctity in a short time. In such a soul I delight. Such a soul gives Me glory. Souch a soul fills heaven with the fragrance of her virtue. But understand that the strength by which you bear sufferings comes from frequent Communions. So approach this fountain of mercy often, to draw with the vessel of trust whatever you need."
The key is trust. Trusting that one's life and especially sufferings will produce good if we trust and cooperate with God's plan for us. Trust is the vessel from which we bring mercy to our soul and reconcilliation and communion are the keys to our active cooperation in that plan being accomplished.
As I observe the mercy, kindness and love that is being poured out on you and our family from God through Sacred Heart, our friends, and our family, it is remarkable how present He is in our lives. I pray that we continue to be open to and more willing recipients of His mercy in our lives and that we are able to find ways to channel that to those around us.
I pray that God may find ways to use me to continually provide you help and comfort each day -- I wish I was able to predict your needs more proactively as I'm sure you tire of me asking "how can I help". Truly, though, it is a great honor for me to be able to do any small act to allow God to channel some comfort to you that you seek. So...
"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." (Mt 7:7-8)
With a deep and profound love,
Hal
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