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Grace is…finding a pro-life,
Natural Family Planning only doctor in your area, realizing God put some of the
most fervent prayers you’ve prayed on your heart so He could bring them to
fruition in ways you couldn’t have imagined or dreamed, catching up with old
friends and getting to know other people better, grandparents who have been
such loving, nurturing, compassionate examples throughout their lives, people
who can make you laugh no matter how long and tiring your day has been, the
gift of prayer, attending Mass with people you love, being accepted for where
you are…
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Harvesting God’s
Abundance I know
there have been times in life when I have felt more like one of the women in
the famous painting by Jean-Francois Millet called Les Glaneuses (The
Gleaners). I am a peasant scrounging for leftovers in a field once full
of golden wheat. When I am more
focused on what I lack inside and out than on God’s abundant blessings, I feel
as if I have been sent out into a field once rich in grain that has already
been harvested. I come with a downtrodden spirit to glean what I can from
what’s been all but picked clean, thinking this is all I am going to receive,
what’s left over from God’s best crops. I feel an even deeper void at the
thought of having so little to bring home for my family and friends.
During those times, God is probably up there shaking His head with a warm
smile, wondering when I’ll look up at the endless rows of golden wheat all
around the extremely small area I’m focusing all my attention on, which has,
indeed, been picked clean… To read the rest of this reflection,
click
here.
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Keeping It Real Thursday evening Kevin and I got
to catch up with a Cursillo friend who we haven’t seen in far too long though
he lives and works nearby. He was a Babe
Chick when Kevin served on team for the Cursillo Men’s Weekend back in March
2009, who has distinguished himself in many ways, one of them by being known as
Handsome Joe in certain circles. He
invited us over, cooked out on the grill, and shared some stories with us about
what he’s been up to lately. There are
some people in this world who are such characters, you can’t help but be amused
by their take on things.
-4-
Don’t Take It
Personally Joe’s invite got me thinking about how it really is such a gift to be invited over to someone’s home
to share a meal. I really want to get
our place to the point where we regularly have more than just one person over
at a time for dinner and to hang out.
Actually, our place is coming along, but our lives in general still feel
so hectic that the idea of having a few friends over for dinner, rather than
just say, my mom or a close friend who’s basically family anyway feels like
more than we have energy for right now. In other words, don't take it personally if you haven't been invited to our place for dinner. Pretty much only like three or four people (that includes my mom, by the way) have in the nine years we've lived here.
. 
-5-
The Job Search Continues Kevin’s still looking for a new job. It’s reminded us both of how discouraging it
can be to be caught up in a routine and way of thinking that is so set on
society’s priorities instead of God’s.
We’re hoping and praying that something that’s a good fit for him will
present itself soon. In the meantime, we’re
trying to be patient and grateful for the other things we’ve been able to take
care of during this time that may have been neglected if Kevin was working
full-time and stressed out.
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Just a Nanny It was October a while
back when Kevin was burned out from work that a few family members were
hassling me for being a nanny when I have a Masters’ degree and several
marketable business skills that I could use for a much more prestigious,
lucrative job. During the time that
Kevin has been out of work, and we’re figuring out what’s next, I’ve been
reminded what a blessing it is that Kevin understands how important the main
caregivers for young children are in helping kids build a foundation of trust,
develop and learn, feel safe and loved.
He has never once belittled me for wanting to provide the most loving,
nurturing environment possible for children to grow up in. I know and have always known that I couldn’t
do what I do taking care of children if it weren’t for having such a loving
husband who “gets it.”
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What Cushion?
I will say it certainly requires a great deal more faith when your
medical bills are really high, and you’re not sure what’s next in terms of your
career. I’ve had so many reminders that
we never know how long we have left. A
couple weeks ago, I was sitting outside praying in front of my dad’s niche in
the Columbarium at St. Michael’s after hearing at Mass that a family had lost
their father at age 53. Dad lived only
16 days past his 54 birthday. Kevin
turned 50 this past summer.
There’s nothing
safe, secure, or sure in this life except the Lord. Thank goodness for the gift of faith and the
love of God that persists no matter what.
If we draw closer to Him, we can rest and trust that the Lord is all
that we really have and gives us all that we need.
Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of
7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.
