You all are wonderful prayer warriors. It is not too often I ask prayers for myself, but I'm struggling at the moment. I know part of it ties in with the fact that our youngest child, Daniel, has driven off into the sunset. Actually, he's a recent college graduate who has found a temporary job in Ohio, about 7 hours away. So now, Geralyn and I are definitive empty-nesters with none of our kids close by. But most of my weariness involves my ministry as chaplain. The following reflects what is all too common with most patients I spend time with. Some of you might think since I'm Catholic, I interact primarily with Catholics, but that is not so. Generally I'm assigned to a unit for the day and carry a pager to cover trauma calls from the Emergency Department. So I visit patients as needed who come from all persuasions. Yesterday, a woman was flown in by helicopter after being involved in a car crash; unfortunately she died in transit. She lived up along the St. Lawrence River, but a daughter, who is a nurse at another nearby hospital, arrived in a timely fashion. Her husband joined her about a half hour later. Obviously, as should be expected, she was an emotional wreck, compounded by the fact she was tight with her Mum and spoke on the phone almost daily. In addition, they were planning on traveling down to another State to visit family in the near future. She had been weeping, but her husband's presence helped bring a certain emotional stability, and so I encouraged them as they shared stories about the Mom, which they did for about 20 minutes. Such delving into happy memories helps put grief into perspective. But through the interaction, it became clear that God was not in the picture; Mom's urn would be placed next to Dad's (he had died 2 years ago); when all was said and done, the two of them would be together again. I've experienced this outlook many times, even at graveside committals, where a reunion is foreseen with loved ones without God being a part of the equation. There have been times when I've interjected God and faith into conversations with patients with marvelous results, but when hurting individuals do not respond positively in these emotional states, I don't press the point. Anyway, it is the frequency of these godless radars that weigh my heart down, and today is one of those times. Lord touch the hearts of this family that they may come to know your Loving Mercy! Grant me wisdom, O Lord, that You may not be lost in the suffering shuffle!
Keep the Faith that God is working through you. I know that the death of my mother is what turned me back to God after wandering off from Him during my college years and early 20s. All in God's time...I will keep you on my beads with the intention that you not be discouraged, that comes from you know who, Trust!
I pray daily for God to grant the grace of final repentance to those He will call back to Himself on that day through the Divine Mercy of His Son, Jesus. There’s more to the prayer but you get the picture. Then you have covered those losses with prayer ahead of time. I agree with what has been posted above as well. I also understand the empty nest feeling. It’s intensely lonely for awhile and then it passes into the next stage of being unfettered and free with wisdom from God to spend that time well. You and Geralyn have truly been good parents! Soldier on, Mario.
Aww, that's hard. Hold tight to your wife and have a nice long encouraging chat with each other about life and God. That's what I do (with my husband) when I'm feeling weighed down by the godlessness of society. I'll be praying for you!
Prayers for you.and who knows by you praying for the dying they may be saved.fr is sacred reyala tells a beautiful story of a hardend jewess dying and being saved by the prayers of her converted Catholic son.
Reverse dialing Therese brother Terry. Sometimes it's hard to understand where or why we fit in the place God has put us but then sometimes a little earthquake rattles our comfort zone, be rest assured and at peace in how the Holy Spirit works in rattling or correcting our paths. Little Therese keep thy rudder straight
Praying you into my Rosary Terry. Of course you are tired and discouraged. Your heart is the Heart of Christ. You are feeling His sadness inside your own. May Our Lady take special care of you tonight.
I'll do that when she returns! She's off to "garage sales day" in Pulaski! Happy in the embrace of Ms. Find a Bargain!
Praying Terry for you and Geralyn, I will ask St Mother Theresa of Calcutta to pray especially for you at this time. Her life as a Missionary of Charity saw many souls and the families not convert, but she trusted in God's infinite Love and Mercy, even though at times like you she could not understand. Mother served the poorest of the poor and she said 'the poorest of the poor are in the rich countries too, there are many people today who do not know the Love of God these too are the poorest of the poor, find them, love them, put love into action, for in loving them you are loving God Himself, (you are doing this Terry), Jesus said if you do this to the least of my brethren you do this to me. If you give a glass of water in my name you have given it to me! The souls you care for, will meet God at their death and they will know how much they have been loved when they see Him, they will see the state of their soul, our prayers can be applied to that moment of their life, God knows when best to apply ours prayers and our Love. Our Job is to Love. Oh Mary conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us. And especially your son and daughter. Terry and Geralyn at this time. Amen
Mario, you and your family along with all forum members and their families are brought by Julia to the foot of the Cross at Holy Mass each day. and a petition in prayer offered for your wellbeing and redemption, under the loving gaze of Jesus our Saviour. Offer the low moments along with the blessed moments in union with our suffering Saviour, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and we all know mother knows best how and where those graces obtained are needed most. You will only know when the loom is silent how God has woven a beautiful tapestry of your life, and He will present it to you one day when you arrive in Heaven. In the meantime, you are just a wonderful lamp whose Light is Jesus within you, whose prayer and trust are the fuel for that Light to continue to shine. God bless.
