family ... children...

for as long as i can remember, there have been very few times when having a child that i am responsible for has sounded appealing.  at those rare times, the feeling is wonderful and powerful, but not strong.  it doesn't take much (distraction, quiet, loud children, etc) for the feeling to pass.

for the weekend, i am on vacation with my family; my whole family!  spouse, parents, siblings, nephews and nieces.  we're only short on the family pets (thank god).  while we were sitting around the dinner table, it was hard to keep the thought out of my mind of how wonderfully my brother and sister parent and how wonderfully my parents have parented.  that is so much to be thankful for.  they are incredible, beyond description.  they set the bar further than i'm able to see.  they are selfless, caring, thoughtful and loving.  taking their gift of parenting for granted would be a horrible sin to commit.  i am blessed to be surrounded by them.

Be With Christ

He Who descended is the [very] same as He Who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things (the whole universe, from the lowest to the highest).  - Ephesians 4:10

 

God is infinite in his simplicity and simple in his infinity. Therefore he is everywhere and is everywhere complete. He is everywhere on account of his infinity, and is everywhere complete on account of his simplicity. Only God flows into all things, their very essences. Nothing else flows into something else. God is in the innermost part of each and every thing, only in its innermost part.  -  Mister Eckhart

 

May the strength of God pilot me,

the power of God preserve me today.

 

May the wisdom of God instruct me,

the eye of God watch over me,

the ear of God hear me,

the word of God give me sweet talk,

the hand of God defend me,

the way of God guide me.


 

Christ be with me.

Christ before me.

Christ after me.

Christ in me.

Christ under me.

Christ over me.

Christ on my right hand.

Christ on my left hand.

Christ on this side.

Christ on that side.

Christ at my back.

 

Christ in the head of everyone to whom I speak.

Christ in the mouth of every person who speaks to me.

Christ in the eye of every person who looks at me.

Christ in the ear of every person who hears me today.

-  Early Church, Irish Prayer

Grandma

i am convinced that i have the greatest grandma there is.  if not, then she definitely makes the top 5!  she is god's 'best case scenario' from when he created the world.  she forgives.  she commits for life.  she selflessly cares for others.  she's silent and listens.  she encourages and speaks.  she is accepting and welcoming.  she is available.  and, dag nab it, the woman can cook like none other!  and this is 'just another person,' i'm writing about.  she isn't a story or myth or a fabricated legend.  she is as real as it gets.  she became a mom at age 16 and decided to love her family the most that she could from then on, even though her family make it about as difficult as they could at times.  but now, they are all different and effected by her great, withstanding love.  flesh and bone.  spirit and heart.

it's so easy to hear stories about people like her and keep them at a comfortable distance of imagination because knowing that they actually exists instills a sense of responsibility to be as great as it is been proven humanly possible to be.  no more excuses.  she does exist and i am a better person for it.  i hope and pray that i will continue to be a better person for it and that, because of her and her children, my grandkids might someday be writing the same thing about me.  because of her.