Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Thoughts on Prayers

My earliest memories are my mom praying with me each night before bed.  And then I remember when I was 5 we added and “Please help grandma not to be lonely.”  Every night I remember praying that Grandma wouldn’t be lonely. You see Memorial Day 1984 my grandpa died of  Colin Cancer. I remember my dad leaving to go to the funeral and so badly wanting to go with him. I was small but have fond memories of my grandpa the few times I saw him. He read books to my sister and me. And I’ve heard stories of him rising over night (he was a traveling sales man) to come see me after i was born. Family was alway important to him. And I was later told he secretly baptized me in the bathroom because he was episcopal (grandma was too) and he was a convert and it was very important to him that I was raise a Christian.

I remember praying for the missionaries all over the world. Nightly and the map that hung on the wall. Intercession for others was daily in my house growing up. And something I need to teach better to my own children.

My grandma was very special to me. She died when i was about 19. I remember the funeral the friends hat would come tell each family member how she was special to them too.  My dad’s voice cracking as he missed his mom so much. My aunts white dress, and her beautiful voice as she sung amazing grace at the grave side. The car trip to Savannah with cousin Beth.  The wrong turn that gave grandma who loved to travel one last trip from Atlanta to Alabama on the way to Savannah. And I missed her after she died very much. It was close to that time that I entered the Catholic Church. I would go visit cemeteries anywhere to talk to her pray for her because I couldn’t make it to Savannah. The trip to Galveston where I would wander the old grave yard with tears steaming down my face on Holy Saturday just before Easter Sunday and tell her I missed her and pray for her soul and my grandpas.

I remember the stops to the tabernacle, I would make in the middle of the night after a NICU visit after William was born. And I would beg for my baby to be ok again.

Then one year about 4 or 5 years ago for lent. I took up praying for the dead for lent. I made a list. Guess it’s kinda always been right there. I have taught my kids that when we pass a grave yard we pray for the holy souls there in that grave yard and for all those with no one praying for them. When an ambulance passes we say a prayer for them. Bad accidents on the highway I will pray for those involved for the whole length of the backup sometimes it’s been miles. My side was moving. But the other side was stopped.

I added names where ever I happened on them. Friends posting prayers bulletin at church. Friends in the throws of grief not knowing how to keep on. I’m going to post the list I started before. And going to keep adding to it.

James Nors
Joe Shafer
Amanda felinko my own cousin
Andrew felinko her husband
Samantha Matthews baby daughter of Casey Matthews
Trey Wooten 4 year old son died in house fire
Stephen Eastridge son Adley Eastridge
Whitney Watson's dad Dwayne Mounce 
Michael Cassimatis 
Robert Henry Carson 
Beckham 
John Haggard. 
Hickman baby
Zimmerman baby
Baby Ferris O'Brien
Mike rogan father of 8 hit a deer
Carolyn Calderwood Daigle Graham (Jen Cathcart grandma)
Dr. Grady Harold O’Neal relative or father of Kim Watkins
Bill Grubbs FIL of Shannon Grubbs 
Jacob bendard 
Evelyn Erichsen 
Will Ganz dad
Daniel Crabtree. 19 year old son of Ms Crabtree
Kathleen Smith 
Uncle Vernon smith 
Uncle Allen smith 
Paxton wages 4 yr old
12/21/15 RIP Defenders:🇺🇸
SA Adrianna Vorderbruggen
SA Michael Cinco
SA Peter Taub
SA Chester McBride
SSgt Louis Bonacasa
TSgt Joseph Lemm
OSI/SFS 21Dec2015

Jordan cook St Anthony grp

2016
Arron sleeper 19yr old
Perpetua Celestine Felicity Maria Hughes 
Gracelynn 6mo old of Hannah Jennifer over streets niece. 

2018
Magdalene Therese Ramirez 10 year old daughter of Jeni Ramirez 


Posted by ~Lydia~ at 12:57 AM

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Mother of a "Special" Child

When I was young, I'd often say,
I'd like to be a mom someday
While playing with my baby doll,
I thought that job's not hard at all

I'd have a baby, maybe two,
a girl in pink...a boy in blue
Well I grew up and sure enough,
I'm now a mom and gosh it's tough

The baby that was sent to me,
was born with disabilities
At first I'm frightened through and through,
there's much to learn to care for you

This wasn't in my plans at all,
when I was young and played with dolls
Your mind and body were so weak,
you might not ever walk or speak

So much special care required,
I'm often scared and often tired
As months and years go slowly by,
I smile a lot but sometimes cry

To watch you grow and not complain,
though you endure your share of pain
Oh, how I'd hold you and I'd pray,
that you'd be healed and whole someday

But I knew that was not to be,
not physically or mentally
And so I taught you best I could,
your progress wasn't very good

But then one day I realized,
as I gazed into your loving eyes
That I had learned so much from you,
determination...courage too

A love so unconditional,
it floods my soul and always will
I'm proud to say I gave you birth,
for you're an angel here on earth.

God Choose a mother for a "Special" child

Most women becaome mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressure and a couple by habit.

This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

"Forrest, Marjotie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."

"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew."

Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But she has patience?" asked the angel.

"I don't want her to have to much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."

"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make her live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps - "selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'. She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!"

"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".

And what about her Patron saint? asked the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."