Bless my Socks!

I was very lucky to grow up in a home with a mom who was a graduate of Mount Carmel Academy for girls in New Iberia, Louisiana.  In 1870, the Sisters of Mount Carmel opened the school in New Iberia and remained until 1988.  The Sisters of Mount Carmel are religious women dedicated to an active ministry of pre-school, education, spiritual direction and social services.  During my mother’s tenure in the forties and fifties, the Sisters were the primary administrators and teachers at the academy and passed on a very traditional Catholic faith.  Students were taught the importance of the mass, sacraments, praying the rosary, and the blessing of sacramentals.  Students took pride in being chaste and virtuous.   Father Joseph Chauvin wrote, “For is not every Carmel a garden of God where lovely blossoms of virtue bloom?”

It was evident growing up that my mother was in love with God and with the mother of God.  Our house always had a statue of Mary in a front flower bed.  Just as she had assisted one of the Sisters at Mount Carmel with painting statues during her high school years; my mother would lovingly clean and paint her statues if they became weather-worn and dull.  She kept blessed objects in our home and holy water.  There were numerous times during a stormy night, I would see my mother running around our home sprinkling holy water for protection.  Her rosary was kept beside her bed and she always ended her day with her rosary and prayers.  I watched her light candles in church for a special intention or in thanksgiving.  She often spoke of the saints, especially St. Anthony and Theresa.  My mother lived her Catholic faith and she made sure her husband and four girls, (while we were still under their roof), lived it with her.

One’s faith either grows or withers away.  Due to the great foundation given to her by the Sisters of Mount Carmel, mom’s faith has never wavered.  She and my father are now retired and live a quiet life.  Even though they are part of the high risk group during this pandemic, they still live their faith by watching mass daily on TV and spending time each day in prayer and reflection.  The two of them turn 80 this year!

We celebrated mom turning eighty in July.  For one of her presents, I bought her some religious socks.  A local Catholic gift shop had a selection of socks with designs such as Mary, Joseph and St. Theresa.  After much thought, I settled on a pair of rosary socks and Mary socks for mom.  I knew that she loved wearing socks and would get a kick out these!  She was surprised and very pleased with her gift.  She was so pleased, that later that evening I received a phone call from mom telling me that she would be bringing her new socks to her local priest for him to bless them!  This really tickled me!  I laughed and told her, “Mom, I do not think anyone has ever asked Father to bless their socks!”.  Mom went on to say that I was to make sure she was buried in her blessed Mary socks!

The Catechism teaches: “Among sacramentals, blessings (of persons, meals, objects, and places) comes first. Every blessing praises God and prays for His gifts. In Christ, Christians are blessed by God the Father, with every spiritual blessing.”  Sacramentals “are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them, men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy.”.

A mother never stops being a mother.  Mary was Jesus’ mom not just on earth; she is His mother in heaven.  Because we have now become children of God and brother and sisters of Christ, Mary is now too our mother in heaven.  Even though I am now a mother and grandmother, my mother is still mom.  She is still teaching me how to live my Catholic faith.  She is still setting an example for her family and showing us the way to heaven.  I only hope I am doing the same for my children.

Well, I will be giving socks for Christmas this year.  Oh, and they will be blessed!

Love,

Sherry

 

A Birthday Wish for Pope Francis

Holy Father, I cannot imagine the weight of being the 266th successor of St. Peter!  The entire Church of more than a billion people, look to you for leadership, clarity, and nuturing.  It is an awesome responsibility.  The world is much different than in the days of St. Peter, but the instruction from our Lord Jesus Christ remains the same: “Feed my lambs..Tend my sheep…Feed my sheep…Follow Me.” John 21:15-19

I love the Church Jesus founded on His rock, St. Peter.  I was baptized Catholic as an infant, was married in the Church, and in recent years have witnessed my grandchildren receive their First Communion.  I love the sacraments and understand how precious and wonderful are the treasures of the Church.  These treasures are not money or priceless art, but the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  His living presence is among us to this day!  The Eucharist is guarded by His Church, but also worshipped and adored.  Along with His physical presence, the Church and its leadership are entrusted with keeping sacred the Words and Teachings of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the Truth and the Way.

These are dark days.  As the world blocks out the light of Jesus, darkness prevails.  Many have fallen into this darkness, including some who were ordained into leadership roles of the Church.  Humans are weak.  Even St. Peter at the dawn of the Church denied Jesus Christ.  It was a dark time, but the Holy Spirit gave courage, wisdom and guidance.  A few men fed a handful of sheep with the Truth, which led to a world wide Church today.

Holy Father, you are a man of great humility. I see God’s mercy in all that you do and say.  As we celebrate Advent and the coming of Jesus, my birthday wish for you is that the Holy Spirit give you the courage, wisdom and guidance to bring the light back.  Please have the courage to speak the Truth and “speak the word of God with boldness.”  Acts 4:31

The flock of Jesus need to understand that sin does exist, so as to avoid the darkenss.  “If your brother sins rebuke him, and if repents, forgive him.” Luck 17:3

Being cautious of offending, has watered down the Truth of Jesus Christ.  Holy Father, be the voice of clarity and truth in this precious Church. May the Holy Spirit always inspire you and give you courage to feed His lambs, tend His sheep, feed His sheep and Follow Him.

Happy Birthday Pope Francis!

my Wounded Healer Super Hero

 

My five-year-old grandson is star struck with super heroes.  There are many of them: Ninja turtles, Power Rangers, Spiderman, and The Incredibles are a few I’ve heard about.

That has me thinking – just what is a SUPER HERO?

Ok, I get it that these characters are the good guys who defeat the bad.  But, what are we teaching our kids about defeating the bad when it seems you have to have super human strength and be able to beat up or destroy with a wide grin on your face?

Sadly, it seems to me that more and more, the lessons of Jesus Christ are being ignored and forgotten.  Jesus is our ultimate SUPER HERO!!  He defeated the ultimate bad guy – Satan!!  Our Savior came into this world to preach Love and Forgiveness.  He was pure Good and Love and how did mankind respond?  Jesus was mocked, beaten, tortured, and murdered.  Jesus could have stopped this madness.  After all, He was God.  Instead He offered Himself up for our sins and our salvation.  His sacrifice was a lesson in Redemptive Suffering and the power of Forgiveness.  The Cross became the ultimate symbol of LOVE!

Too often people are judgmental, selfish and proud.  We look for the worst in others to make us feel better about ourselves.  We choose to be divisive and  disrespectful of all God’s children who are different than ourselves.  The world has become a harsh and unloving world.  The people who do choose to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ are mocked, beaten, tortured and murdered.  These followers are the new Super Heroes.  They are standing up for their beliefs and their God.

Our Lords’ mother has been making trips to this earth regularly during the last few centuries.  She has been warning about times like these.  She always asks for prayer and sacrifice.  She always asks that we change our hearts and follow her Son, Jesus.

This is the message given in Medjugorje today by our mother, Mary:

“Dear children, with motherly love I implore you, love one another.  May there be in your hearts, as my Son desired from the very beginning, love for the Heavenly Father and for your neighbor in the first place – above everything of this world.

My dear children, do you not recognize the signs of the times?

Do you not recognize that all of this that is around you, all that is happening, is because there is no love?

Comprehend that salvation is in true values.  Accept the might of the Heavenly Father, love Him and honor Him. Walk in the footsteps of my Son.

You, my children, my dear apostles, you are always gathering around me anew, because you are thirsty. You thirst for peace, love and happiness. Drink out of my hands. My hands are offering to you my Son, who is the spring of clear water.

He will bring your faith back to life and purify your hearts, because my Son loves pure hearts and pure hearts love my Son.  Only pure hearts are humble and have firm faith. I ask for such hearts of you, my children.

My Son told me that I am the mother of the entire world. I ask of those of you who accept me as such to help me, with your life, prayer and sacrifice, for all of my children to accept me as a mother – so that I may lead them to the spring of the clear water.

Thank you.

My dear children, as your shepherds offer you the Body of my Son with their blessed hands, always in your hearts give thanks to my Son for the Sacrifice and for the shepherds that he always gives you anew.”

He has healed us with His Wounds.

He has given us His Mother to help us follow His footsteps.

Let’s teach our kids about the Greatest Super Hero – OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

 

 

 

 

 

Hurricane Prayer

     Monday morning I was watching the news and in a matter of minutes heard news reports about an earthquake, forest fires, sink holes, tornadoes and a hurricane!  It was astounding to me how matter-of-fact these events seemed to me.  As a child, I would have thought the world was coming to an end had I heard of all of these events in one day!  With the world in a turmoil – Iraq, ISIS, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza,….and our own country’s troubles; it seems only natural that our Lord, through his creation of nature, would be warning us to take heed.  A news program like Monday makes me pray and beg for God’s help in what seems to be a confused and crazy world.

Living in Cajun country, I have seen my share of storms and hurricanes. My worse was hurricane Andrew in 1992.   In the 2005 we had hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  New Orleans took the brunt of Katrina. I work for a company based out of New Orleans.  Our New Orleans employees were displaced and some became homeless as a result of this devastating hurricane.  Rita hit closer to home and lower Iberia Parish had hundreds of homes flooded as the storm surge wreaked havoc on the coast.  The normally calm bayous and shady oak trees became torrents of flood waters and falling masses of destruction.  I was home for hurricane Andrew.  It is a very scary feeling to know that you are at the mercy of mother nature.

What can we do to combat these forces of nature?  Well, our community and family decided after 2005 that it was time to pray.  At all of our masses at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, we begin during hurricane season with a hurricane prayer.  At all of our family rosaries on Tuesday nights, we end our rosary with a prayer for hurricane season during the months of June through November.  Since 2005, we have not had a major hurricane hit our area.  I am not saying it is solely because of these prayers – but I am saying that it might be!

I cannot change the world.  I cannot make evil go away.  Sometimes things seem so out of control that I feel it is impossible to find a solution.  It is at these times that I have to trust in God and know that He told us prayer is powerful.  If we have the tiniest bit of faith we can move mountains.  During these times of evil and meaningless deaths, I am asking you to join me in praying fervently for God’s intervention.  Together we can weather the storms.  With God’s help we can overcome them.

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

PRAYER FOR HURRICANE SEASON

O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of Your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed Your order and returned to its former quietude; You are still the Master of land and sea.  We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control. The Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster. During this hurricane season, we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son in our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a storm-less eternity awaits us. Amen.

Nurses Heal the Soul

Friday is my mother’s birthday.  She is in her seventies and a retired nurse.  Nursing is in her blood, heart, and soul.

My mother left nursing to be a stay at home mom with her first born, which was me.  Although she was not at a hospital or in a nurse’s uniform, she had plenty of opportunities over the next eighteen years with her four daughters to put her nursing experience into practice, until the day when she would return to the career she loved.

I loved being sick!  Upon being diagnosed with an ailment, we girls would be ordered by our very own “nurse” to put on our pajamas and go straight to bed.  The pampering would begin.  Our mother brought us soup and crackers on a bed tray.  She took our temperature every hour and poured our baths for us.  She brought us our medicine and changed our bed sheets.  At the time I thought every sick child in the world received the same treatment I received from my mother.  She never complained.  She was patient, gentle, and kind.  Whatever we asked for while sick; she was happy to accommodate.  What a gift!

As our nurse, she tended to our physical needs.  As our mother, she tended to our souls.  She made sure we attended mass every Sunday.  We witnessed how important prayer, the rosary and Bible were to her daily life.  She shared stories from the Bible about Jesus and our mother Mary as well as bearing witness to the Saints and their intercession for us.

Once I was married with my own children, I realized the sacrifice my mother made to leave the job she loved and to care for us so tenderly when we were at our worst!    I am so happy that she did return as a labor and delivery nurse when her children were all of school age.  She made quite a difference in the lives of many patients and their little ones.  Good mothers must make the best nurses!

Nurses, however, do not make the best patients!

We had a scare this past week when mom had to be admitted to the local hospital for tests on her heart.  She had not been feeling well for a long time.  It was a bit of a struggle to get her to admit she needed to be admitted to the hospital.  Once a care-giver, always a care-giver.  She is not comfortable with receiving care and being the patient.  The Lord gave her plenty of warning signs and she finally listened.  She now has been diagnosed and is receiving the correct treatment.

Having been in the company of plenty of doctors over the years, my mother understands that the one True Great Physician and Healer is the Lord.  Our God does use people and situations to have His Will known.  We are all His creations and He has a plan for each of us.  It is a blessing when we are given the insight into what our Lord has planned for us.

We all have God-given gifts.  My mother was given the gift of lovingly being able to take care of the sick. That was her calling and she obeyed.   My earliest memories are of my mother daily making trips to her mother’s house where she would give her insulin and check on her health.  I can always remember her caring for elderly neighbors and family members.    She has taken the gift God gave her and given it to others.  Even though she is now retired, she is always there for a sick friend or family member.

Mom,

Thank you  for your loving care.  You have been  a great role model for your girls.  We are all better mothers because of you!  It must make you very proud that one of your daughters has followed in your footsteps and is following God’s call to also be a nurse – to help heal souls!

Enjoy your birthday.  Take it easy and rest.  If you need some loving care, I’ve been taught by the best!  I will be there, as will all your daughters.  You’ve had fifty years of caring for your family – it’s time you were treated to some pampering!

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

 

 

 

 

 

Hit the Emergency Button

Recently my daughter and my two grandchildren took a beach vacation.  Upon returning, my daughter shared a cute story with my husband and I that I would like to share with you.

My daughter and her children frequented an arcade while on vacation.  The arcade had a virtual reality roller coaster.  It sat two people who are fully enclosed in the ride which rises, falls, and rotates around to give the extra added sensation of being on an actual roller coaster.  My grandson noticed this ride on the first day and begged his mother to let him on it.  But his mother felt that a four-year-old was just too young for the ride.

This went on the entire trip.  An arcade visit always ended up with the four-year-old begging his mom to let him ride the roller-coaster.  On the last day of the trip my daughter noticed that her son did meet the height requirement for the roller coaster.  She spoke to the attendant, who informed her that the ride had a slow, medium, and fast speed.  She was told the slow speed was appropriate for her son’s age.  So, with much trepidation, she let the four-year-old with his seven-year-old sister get on the virtual reality roller coaster.

The two kids sat in the ride.  The attendant explained to the older sister to pick the “slow” speed and advised her of the “emergency button” should there be a need to stop the ride.

The attendant closed up the ride.  My daughter watched as her no longer visible children rose up in the air in the machine.  As the ride started up, the attendant looked at my daughter, smiled and said, “She picked the fast speed!”.  Yes, my little angel of a granddaughter decided that she would give her little brother a ride he would remember!

Their mother was helpless.  She could only watch the machine rise, fall and rotate.  Her stomach felt sick and her heart was pounding.  What was happening in that thing?

Near the end of the ride, the attendant once again looked at my daughter, smiled, and said, “They pressed the emergency button!”  Finally, the ride came to an end.  It lowered and the amused attendant opened the hatch.

Once open my daughter saw her own daughter sitting, giggling and just tickled with herself!  The little brother was in tears and wanted his mommy!

I love this story.  It holds so many of life’s lessons in that one story.  Life is like a roller coaster – it has its ups and downs.  Be careful for what you wish for..

Most of all, I love the “emergency button.”  Sometimes in life we want that emergency button.  Sometimes we want to just say “stop, I need time to collect myself and my sanity!”

For me that emergency button is my Lord.  When things get too much to handle, I need to just relax, pray, and give it to the Lord.  He is my Healer, my Strength and my Sanity!

Here is a poem that sums it up by Shirley Powell

His Presence Within

God never sends sorrow without joy, Nor the sun without the rain.

He never gives us a cross too heavy that we can’t bear the pain.

He is always present within our hearts, whispering encouragement to you and me.

He lifts us up when we are down and listens to our humble pleas.

Who else would have the patience to listen to our complaints, yet hold us close to His gentle heart and love us without restraint?

There is always another river to cross and another mountain to climb.

If we but put our trust in Him, we’ll be filled with His love sublime.

His arms are always opened wide, waiting patiently to embrace troubled souls like you and me and to fill us with His grace.

When despair and sadness come our way, just always remember this…

Tomorrow or another day soon we’ll be filled with happiness and bliss.

C’est Bon!

Love,

Sherry

 

 

Remember

It is Memorial Day.  I have much respect for our fallen soldiers.  My husband is a veteran; I know first hand the sacrifice and life-threatening situations our soldiers endure for our country and our freedom.

This Memorial Day, I am also choosing to remember our fallen brothers and sisters who died defending their beliefs and Jesus Christ.  It is so important to remember these sacrifices especially today when  it seems as if so many in today’s culture wants us to forget the lessons taught by our Savior more than 2000 years ago.  The battlefield has moved to our own state capitals, county court houses, and our own back yards.

In the history of the United States of America, there have been many wars and battles.  The Revolutionary War of 1775 saw 25,000 dead; Vietnam War, a total of 58,209 died.  All together, over a million United States citizen have died protecting our freedoms, including our freedom to follow our own religious beliefs and morals.

Since the time of Jesus Christ, there have been countless martyrs.  Saints Stephen, Peter and Paul all died proclaiming the gospel.  St. Joan of Arc was executed in 1431.  More recently, Maximillian Kolbe died in 1941 and Oscar Romero in 1980.  You may be thinking that all of these individuals were not killed in this great country that was founded on principles of freedom, and that is true.  This country is slowly persecuting Christians by taking away their jobs and economic resources.  Speak out candidly regarding matters of faith and you risk losing your job, friends, and respect.

I will also argue that there are many more victims killed in this country today than ever in our country’s history.  Remember the “Massacre of the Holy Innocents”, Matthew 2:16?  Since 1973, Roe v. Wade, over 40 million innocent babies have been legally killed in abortions.  That is 1100 times the number of fallen soldiers in the Vietnam War.  Already this year, there are over 450,000 victims.  Pro-abortion advocates have always stated that legalized abortion protects women.  The truth is that in 1970 there were 119 deaths resulting from illegal abortions.  Legalized abortions have not brought down that number, in fact it has increased.  Abortion clinics have not been regulated and women have been injured, harmed, and many have died.  Of course there is always a death in every abortion, as a creation of God is given a death sentence because they are an “inconvenience”.

One of the readings at mass yesterday was Acts 8:14-18. “they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.”    This passage for Catholics is the Biblical foundation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

As infants, we are baptized into the Church, which is the mystical Body of Christ.  As adults, we become confirmed, which gives us the special strength of the Holy Spirit.  Once confirmed, we are to become true witnesses of Jesus Christ and are obliged to spread and defend the faith by our words and deeds.

It is not easy to speak out in defense of our beliefs these days.  Society wants to tell us our beliefs are old fashioned and meaningless.  We must remember those who have gone before us and gave their lives so that we could be brought up in the faith.

I encourage all of you to view the YouTube video clip of Jim Caviezel’s speech at the Rock Church.  Not only did Jim play Jesus on the big screen; he is living a life in imitation of Christ and defending what is a true Christian.  If all Christians spoke out in defense of our faith – this nation would see great changes.  If all Christians voted according to candidates that will uphold our Christian values – this nation would see great changes.

It starts at the home.  Teach the faith to your children.  Teach your children to stand up for their beliefs.  Pray as a family.  Pray and fast for the conversion of this nation and our world.  Remember all the fallen soldiers who have died protecting our country and our freedoms.  Remember the Christian Martyrs who have given their life in defense of Jesus Christ so that His teachings would remain. Remember the innocent victims of the legalized sin of abortion, both the mothers and the children.  Remember your faith.  Remember Jesus Christ.

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry

 

 

Power of Prayer

My daughter and I recently attended a Lenten retreat given by Immacule’e Ilibagiza in Thibodaux, Louisiana.  Immacule’e is the author of Left to Tell, Our Lady of Kibeyo, and If We Had Only Listened.  She is a survivor of the Rwanda genocide of 1994 and tells an amazing story about her journey of faith and forgiveness.

If ever you have the opportunity to hear her speak, I encourage you to do so.  It is a moving and very spiritual experience.

Immacule’e shared something with us that was so unbelievable, I want to share it with everyone!  It involves her book, Left to Tell and Hollywood.

Once Left to Tell was released and became popular, Immacule’e said that she began to have people ask her if she would make a movie out of her story.  She thought that would be impossible because her faith, the Bible and the rosary were so important to her survival; she did not feel that Hollywood would truthfully expose her faith in a movie.  The more she traveled and met people, the more she heard them say that there should be a movie made of her story.

One day after hearing this same request for a movie and after giving the same answer that Hollywood would not depict her spiritual journey, Immacule’e was given the name Steve McEveety.  McEveety was the producer of “The Passion of the Christ”.  This was a favorite movie of Immacule’e, but she had no clue how to reach McEveety and no idea about the workings of Hollywood.  So, she did what she knew.  She prayed the rosary. Immacule’e started a 54 day rosary novena.  She asked her friends to pray the novena with her, and together they prayed for Mary’s intercession that if this movie was to be made, Immacule’e would meet Mr. Steve McEveety.

Around the 50th day of the novena, Immacule’e was a speaker in California at the Rosary Bowl.  There was an audience of tens of thousands of people and she was one of several speakers.  The speakers were lined up.  Immacule’e said she turned around and faced the speaker after her and saw Jesus!  Acutally she saw Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in “The Passion of  The Christ.”  She said she was star struck and surprised when Jim Caviezel hugged her and told her that his wife read her book and they were such fans of her!  Even better, Jim invited Immacule’e over to his home after the engagement to have dinner and meet his wife!  She could not believe it!  She said, “I was thinking, Oh my goodness, Jesus is taking me to his house!”

She went on to say that Jim’s wife was a lovely woman and they were enjoying the visit when there was a knock at the front door.  Who was at the front door?  None other than Steve McEveety and his wife!  She was in shock.  She said she had to stay calm, but every part of her wanted to shout out, “Thank you Mother!”.  The five of them sat around a kitchen table and they asked Immacule’e many questions about her ordeal in Rwanda.  At one point, Steve’s wife nudged him and told him, “You need to make this movie.”  He replied there was no way he could do this.  Immacule’e said she said nothing, but inside she thought, “If our mother wants you to make this movie, you WILL make this movie!”.

Returning home, still marveling at the coincidences that had occurred; Immacule’e received an email from Steve McEveety exactly on the last day of her 54 day novena.  McEveety told Immacule’e that whatever it took, he WOULD make her movie!

Praise be the Lord!

Immacule’e is living proof of our Lord’s love for us and His mother and the power of prayer!

I cannot wait for this movie – ordained by our Lord – for all of us.

C’est Bon!

Love,

Sherry

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

God, the Author of Life

January 22, 1973, Roe vs Wade was decided by the United States Supreme Court.  January 22, 1973, Life in the United States drastically changed.  In a country that was founded on the principle that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are LIFE, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness”, LIFE was taken out of that Declaration which was signed July 4, 1776 by our founding fathers.

If God is the sole Author of Life, man is the author of death.  And so the deaths began…

A February 2008 issue of Scientific American, posted an article entitled, “Your cells are my cells“.  The article revealed that research has proven that women carry cells from every child we have ever conceived for the rest of our lives.  Surviving children also carry our cells and any subsequent children who follow the loss of a sibling carries cells from that sibling.  We are all connected because we all have one Creator.  The moment we are formed in our mother’s womb we have been created.  The moment we are formed in our mother’s womb, we are a human being, and as such, we should have the same rights and protections as all humanity deserves.

There are millions of babies who have never had a choice; never had protection under the law.  It is time that society stands up for these babies and the countless more who have yet to be created.

I met a remarkable woman this past week.  Her name is Brenda DesOrmeaux and she founded the DesOrmeaux Foundation.  After the tragedy of 1973, Brenda felt a calling and decided to act.  She became an active member of the Acadiana Right to Life, working for the Pro-Life cause.  Her years of participation in this Fight for Life led to her running the Women’s Center of Lafayette.  After forming the DesOrmeaux Foundation, Brenda gave up her role in the Acadiana Right to Life and devoted herself to defending Human Life, the sanctity of marriage, and promoting chaste relationships.  Through her efforts, Lafayette, Louisiana now has a Pregnancy Center which offers free pregnancy test, family planning counseling, free ultrasound and financial assistance; the St. Marguerite d’Youville home which provides women with a peaceful, secure setting to help them process their needs, emotions, and choices; and the Baby and Me Boutique which specializes in selling maternity and baby items at give-away prices. Brenda heard God’s calling and she responded.

These are urgent times.  The more we advance with technology, the more technology points to the fact that a pregnant woman does not hold a blob of tissue. Each person is created unique and in the image of God.

Jesus said it best to Nancy Fowler in Conyers, Georgia, January 6, 1991: “Oh what a terrible, grave sin abortion is.  Man does not know the destiny of each child conceived, does not know the destiny of any child conceived.  So popes are murdered, priests are murdered, nuns are murdered, and on and on. Does this grave sin not bring about the wrath of God?”

And again to Nancy on February 6, 1993: “You must know that abortion is murder. I am the Creator, you are not.  I am the Author of Life, you are not. Do not kill who I have created.  The commandment of God is “Thou shall not kill”. You will battle with each other over laws that you create apart from Me.”

We are all called.

Romans 11:32 “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.  Then you will be able to know the will of God – what is good and is pleasing to Him and is proper.”

September 29, 1992; Our Blessed Mother’s message to Nancy Fowler for America: “America pick up your Rosary, kneel down and pray.

This week marks the 41st anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.  Do something.  Go to a March for Life; attend a prayer service or mass; contact your state representatives…. Together we can give hope to all the children of God who are yet to be.

C’est Bon

Love,

Sherry