Pushing Through Pain

We don't truly know peace in our hearts until pain is as welcome to us as lack of pain.  Then the times when we feel no pain won't be marred by apprehension over the future when maybe we will.

Brother Lawrence 

Love,


(and Presley)

All Saints Day and Halloween

We had the Mad Hatter, a Bumble Bee and Raggedy Ann.  They had fun.

Yesterday we went to All Saints Day Mass.

It was a special anniversary for us because 6 years ago I was released from the hospital after we fought so hard against MRSA pneumonia.  I remember being so thankful to be let out of the hospital.  On the way home, we stopped at church.  I'll never forget rejoicing with all of the saints that day.  I was so happy to be alive and walking (with a cane) down the isle to accept the Eucharist.

Sometimes I forget to be thankful.  I mean, my poor body has been through so much and it still does such a good job considering everything it's overcome.

Even now I'm taking pills of poison (imuran) each day just to keep lupus from attacking me beyond repair and I still manage to complete most of my daily duties.  (Even if I'm dragging myself along.)

This was one of the readings from Mass.  Remember the neo-magnet and refining post?  Spooky coincidence. 

Ecclesiastes 2: 1-11

My child, when you come to serve the Lord,
prepare yourself for testing.
Set your heart right and be steadfast,
and do not be impetuous in time of calamity.
Cling to him and do not depart,
so that your last days may be prosperous.
Accept whatever befalls you,
and in times of humiliation be patient.
For gold is tested in the fire,
and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation.
Trust in him, and he will help you;
make your ways straight, and hope in him.

You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;
do not stray, or else you may fall.
You who fear the Lord, trust in him,
and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the Lord, hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
Consider the generations of old and see:
has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed?
Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord and been forsaken?
Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected?  For the Lord is compassionate and merciful;
he forgives sins and saves in time of distress.

I pray for everyone who reads this and ask for healing and strength for us and all of our families.

Love,

 

This Halloween I'll Be Magnetic Girl.

Hello.

So, it's Halloween.  Last night I had a dream where a man was singing a song.  Here are the lyrics I remember:

I'm like a neo-magnet racing onward, pressing forward into the future.

Then I looked up neo-magnets and found out they actually exist.

They're the strongest type of rare-earth magnets, permanent and made from alloys of rare earth elements.

Pretty cool, right?

I want to be a neo-magnet.  They're even refined in really high temperatures.  I guess I can pretend it's fun to be refined and purified so my heart can be pure for God.

If I'm going to have to go through the refinement process, I at least want to be attractive.  Right?  Also being rare and permanent seems like it would be nice.

Also, (back to the neo-magnets) the ones that are larger than a few centimeters are strong enough to cause injuries to body parts pinched between two magnets, or a magnet and a metal surface, even causing broken bones.

See!  I could be a really dangerous super-hero if I choose to unleash my magnetic powers.

It's fun to pretend and sound weird.

Love,