A mother’s prayer

Twenty-seven years ago this day, my eldest son was born.  He came into the world on the feast day of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus.  He was given a middle name after my father, Christopher.  He was our first son and both our parents’ first grandson.  He rose to the occasion!

He was a curious and talkative child with a kind heart and big personality.  He made friends with everyone.  I watched him grow and mature into a handsome (no, I’m not just saying that because I’m his mother), confident and faith-filled young man.  He was taught values according to our Catholic faith and he lives that faith.

He has always been a hard worker and has exceled at just about every endeavor he has put his mind to.  From the teenage band to elocution contest to football and powerlifting… he went on to graduate from college and begin a successful career.  Sounds like he has it all…but as a mother, you know when something is missing.  That something turned out to be a young lady named Megan.

A year ago my husband and I took a pilgrimage to Caritas Birmingham, Alabama.  My focus for this pilgrimage was to consecrate my family, especially my children to Mary.  Nine days prior to arriving at Caritas Birmingham, I began a novena, saying a special consecration prayer for my children.  I had not told my husband of the novena.  When we arrived on the ninth day, we visited the chapel, which had a beautiful Mary room.  There was a life size statue of Mary with a sand box in front, in which candles could be lit and placed.  I grabbed a candle to light.  My husband quickly told me that I should light three candles, one for each of our children.  After lighting the candles and placing them at the feet of Mary, my husband stated, “you just gave your children to Mary”.

I was overjoyed!  I excitedly told my husband, “That is my novena!”  I took out my prayer booklet and opened it up to the prayer I had prayed for the last eight days and we stood there together in front of our mother and said the ninth prayer together.  I instantly felt a connection and peace in my heart.  Mary would be praying and interceding for the intentions in my heart concerning my children.

About a month after our return, my son called to inform me that he had met someone special.  They became engaged last month and will marry in the Catholic church in January, 2015.

Her name, Megan, means pearl.  And like a pearl she is a rare and valuable treasure.  She is gorgeous on the inside as well as the outside.  She was raised with the same morals and values as my son and loves her Catholic faith.

Christopher means “he who holds Christ in his heart”.  My son who has Christ in his heart has made room for a precious pearl.  May God bless them during their engagement and bless their marriage.

I gave my children to Mary…and she gave me a precious daughter.

Happy Birthday son!

C’est Bon!

Love,

Mom

Regrets…..Rebirth

Last week I stopped by and visited a friend I have had for years.  She lives in another state, so we do not get to see each other often.  We had a very nice visit which included sharing with each other our Christian faiths.  That day my friend shared a very personal experience from her past with me that I have found to be one of the most profound and dramatic narratives of God’s Love and Mercy.  She has given me permission to now share her story with you.

My friend, about forty years ago, was nineteen, married, and pregnant with her first child.  The pregnancy left her extremely ill.  She did not eat much for two months, and when she did she became very nauseous.  There were further complications of bleeding.

Her doctor met with her and her husband and advised an abortion.  The doctor claimed that the pregnancy was making her too sick; and he insisted that the loss of blood would create a brain-damaged baby.  My friend’s husband at the time, a preacher, was extremely pro-child.  He wanted a wife and family as soon as possible; however, he did not want any “damaged” children.  The preacher insisted upon the abortion.  My friend was heartbroken and was unconvinced that the pregnancy would not turn out a viable child.  She asked her husband that they take one night to reflect.  All agreed.

Upon leaving the doctor’s office, my friend became hungry.  Her husband took her to a restaurant, and she had a hearty meal without becoming sick for the first time in two months.  She took this as a sign.  She begged her husband to reconsider and let the pregnancy progress.  He adamantly refused.  The preacher said his mind was made up, the procedure would happen the next day.

She cried all night.  She climbed onto the hospital gurney the next day crying and cried up until they put her to sleep for the procedure.  When she awoke, her doctor told her matter-of-factly, “It’s a good thing we terminated; you had triplets in there!”  Well, those words finished her off!  Not only did she end one child’s life, she ended the lives of three.  The pain in her heart was greater than she thought could be possible without the heart just tearing in two.  It seemed as if the life had been ripped out of her body; that she was a shell, broken.

She cried for a year.  The grief of the loss of her dear triplets was compounded by the fact that her mother had lost triplets in a miscarriage.  After a year with no conception and little relief from the pain in her heart, her husband informed her that she had two years to conceive his child or there would be a divorce.  No child came and the husband was true to his word.  The marriage ended.

Turning to her faith and her God, my friend prayed for healing and the grace to one day bring another life into this world.  She received an answer.  After a Sunday service, a fellow church member told her that the Lord had spoken and told them that she would one day conceive and have a child.  The messenger told her God had promised.

She married again, and for 12 years they lived a married life with no protection against pregnancy.  One day at age 38, my friend was feeling ill and for fun took a pregnancy test.  The test was positive.  Her husband was in disbelief and accompanied her to a doctor visit.  The doctor confirmed – she was seven weeks pregnant.  She knew this was the promised child.  Her husband was still in shock, but she was on top of the world.

Until the phone rang the very next day.  She had to return to the doctor.  She and husband were again handed news.  This time the news was bad, cervical cancer.  Once again she was told by a doctor to terminate her pregnancy.  The words stung like a knife in her heart.

Immediately she asked the doctor two questions: 1 – Do you believe in Jesus Christ? and 2-Do you believe cancer can go into remission or be cured?  Her doctor said yes to believing in Jesus and said in “most cases cancer.”.  She stopped him. She asked him again and warned him that the wrong answer would prevent him from continuing as her doctor.  He finally said yes, cancer can go into remission.  Her husband by this point had found his voice and was asking for termination of the pregnancy.  She told the doctor, “congratulations, you have a patient”… and come hell or high water she informed both the doctor and the husband that she would be carrying the child to term.  She did not care about what would be happening to her body; she knew this was God’s promise and it would be fulfilled.

She called her prayer warriors, starting with mama, and told everyone “pray for this baby, do not pray for me.  I accept God’s will for me, but I want this baby to live.”

That baby and his mother survived.  She now has a son who has given her two beautiful granddaughters.

I sat stunned at her story.  I was in awe that God saw fit to put her in the same situation nearly twenty years later.  She not only got a second chance at giving life, but she also received the chance to make the right choice.  Most facing her decision, would have said it just wasn’t in the cards and would have put themselves first.  She chose life and self-sacrifice and God’s Mercy rained down upon her!

Her three little babies in heaven must have been so proud!  Their mother was willing to give the ultimate sacrifice to save a loved one’s life.  One day in heaven, she will be surrounded by her children; her family will at last be reunited in Christ.

God always has a plan.  It is up to us to follow, although the road may be treacherous and hard, He is with us and helping us.

Thank you my friend!  You have lifted me up!

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

is Knowledge really Power?

Genesis 2:14  Then the Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it.  He told him, “You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day.”

Genesis 3:4  The snake replied, “That’s not true; you will not die. God said that because He knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad.”

What did Adam and Eve do?  They wanted to be like God and so they ate the forbidden fruit.  Who was telling them the truth?  Of course, it was God who is the Truth.  They were given everything, and still they yearned for more.  Man turned away from God’s truth and innocence.  The sad part is that thousands of years later, nothing has changed.

The forbidden fruit today is everywhere.  Knowledge is at our fingertips like never before.  As technology and man’s knowledge of this world advance, dependence on our God and His Truth decline.

Think about it; what does all this knowledge really do for us?  Are we using this knowledge to guide us in the path towards God’s Kingdom?

I will give one example of a technological advance that has brought about good, but also much evil;  something as simple as an ultrasound.  Ultrasounds have great medical value.  It gives doctors eyes into our bodies.  They are able to diagnose, treat, and heal with greater accuracy and less evasiveness.

I had my first ultrasound when I was expecting my second child.  (My first child was born two years earlier and at that time ultrasounds were only used during pregnancy if the doctor suspected a problem.)  My husband and I were thrilled to find out we were expecting our first boy during this first ultrasound, and that he was healthy.  Unfortunately not all parents receive that kind of news.

I recently read a wonderful book by Chad Judice, Eli’s Reach.  Chad and his family also live in southern Louisiana.  The book was a follow up to his first book, Waiting for Eli.  The two books chronicle the story of Chad and Ashley and their second son, Eli, who was diagnosed with spina bifida while still in the womb.  Although 80% of children diagnosed with spina bifida in the womb are aborted, Chad and Ashley chose to trust in God and His plan.  Today their son Eli is a blossoming five-year-old, who does have medical problems, but also has above average intelligence and the hearts of everyone who meet him!  Chad is active in the pro-life movement as a public speaker and has changed many lives with the story of Eli.

How many Eli’s are never given a chance to live?  Most parents with the KNOWLEGE that their child will be born with major medical issues and possible brain damage, chose to bite that forbidden fruit.  They think they have the POWER of God, and can decide whether or not a child should be born.  Too often they decide that their child’s life would have little value.  How could anything God creates be of little value?

Adam and Eve sinned against God and brought death upon man.  Jesus and Mary said yes to God.  They asked for His Will to be done.  This brought about new life for man.  It saddens me to think how much Jesus suffered for our sins.  He was abandoned, betrayed, tortured, and crucified.  He left this world with no possessions.  His mother had to watch in horror the treatment of her Lord and Son.  What mother has suffered more?

When will we learn that there is no knowledge outside God’s Truth?

Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.  Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way.  Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong. If you do, it will be like good medicine, healing your wounds and easing your pains.”

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry