Note

NOTE: Commentary is made as a private citizen and not as Regional Coordinator for Silent No More or any other ministries.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Open His Gift




Of the many General Intercessions at Christmas Eve Mass, one was directed towards non-believers. When I knelt down after receiving the Eucharist, my thoughts were on those souls.  May the gift they open be their hearts ... to experience the love, peace and hope that can only come from Christ Jesus.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting  Father,
Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)
 

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

 









Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Recipe for Happiness





I saw this blog post from Live Your Poem and had to share:


I was looking through all my cookbooks for a breakfast casserole recipe when I found this entry at the very back of a homemade cookbook that was assembled by Deb Dykes:

Recipe for Happiness

2 Heaping Cups of Patience
1 Heart, Full of Love
2 Handfuls of Generosity
PLENTY OF FAITH
1 Handful of Understanding
A Dash of Laughter
A Generous Sprinkle of Kindness

 Combine patience, love and generosity with understanding. Add a dash of laughter and sprinkle generously with kindness. Add plenty of faith and mix well. Spread over a period of a lifetime. Serve everyone you meet.


Monday, December 8, 2014

An Unsung Hero


 
A writer's life can be very complicated and stressful, in fact; it usually is.  With looming deadlines, promotions and family/work/ministry responsibilities, it can become totally overwhelming.  Fortunately, God placed several people in my life that understand and give me incredible support ... but the greatest source of support is my husband. 

Michael works full-time, Monday through Friday and sometimes on Saturdays. Even with that schedule, he unselfishly picks up the slack on the home front when I'm faced with a deadline, co-leading Rachel's Hope retreats or coordinating something for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign.  He also deals with my nocturnal writing habits...seeing me tapping away at the laptop when he goes to bed then still tapping away when he gets up for work at 4 a.m. 

Being one that finds self-promoting a tad bit daunting, Michael has picked up the slack in that department too.  He plugs my work whenever he gets a chance and also gives me objective, honest critiques. He reads my drafts prior to submission but one in particular worried me ... And God Still Loves Me - A Journey from the Dark Abyss of Sin to God's Mercy. The book was my story of redemption, and revealed what transpired during what I call the "demon days"... which revealed incidents that might cause him embarrassment.  Was he shocked, angry or ask me to remove any of it?  No!  He gave me a big hug and said nothing I did in the past would change his feelings towards me. 

Backing me up is one thing, but it pales in comparison to what he has done for my family. We were both empty-nesters when we married fourteen years ago and enjoyed privacy and freedom ... then my son and his girlfriend needed a place to live while awaiting the birth of their first child.  "No problem", Michael said.  They lived with us for a year and a half before relocating to Michigan. After a couple of years alone, my son needed some moral support after the death of his father (my ex-husband) and help dealing with some other personal issues.  Michael not only provided the necessary resources to fly him to his dad's funeral in Texas but enough to come here and spend time with us to fall back and regroup.  It ended up being a two-month visit.  A year later, my parents and uncle needed to be closer to family due to their advancing age and health problems.  Instead of searching out nearby assisted living facilities, I wanted them to live with us even though I knew it would be a huge responsibility and involve significant adjustments. Michael did not hesitate for a minute....he welcomed them into our home with open arms.

No, it's not Michael's birthday or our anniversary.  I was compelled to write this because sometimes I am remiss in letting him know how truly blessed I am to have him as my husband, friend and rock.  There is so much more I could write, but to do so would take days.  I just wanted to share a few reasons my heart is overflowing with love and gratitude.

 




Sunday, December 7, 2014

Who Cares?




This past week started out with several disappointing situations which still have not been resolved; however, by Friday, I felt nothing but serenity and gratitude. 

I woke up on Monday morning with my regular "life is good" attitude until I opened an e-mail that pulled the rug out from under me. I switched over to Facebook for a temporary distraction only to find a derogatory post from a family member that was unwarranted and cruel.  I was disappointed, hurt and angry ... overcome with a strong desire for retaliation. Satan had found a way to push buttons in his continuing quest to weaken my faith ... but he lost. Although I had an angry discussion with God and wallowed in self-pity for a while, faith prevailed, thanks to so many loving and compassionate people in my life.

To quote Roy Lessin in his devotional, God Cares for You

 "There are times when God expresses His care for us through others.  It can be through someone's smile or touch ... through a timely word that is spoken, or a loving deed that is expressed ... through a burden that is shared, or a prayer that is prayed on your behalf.  In big ways and in little ways, God has so many wonderful ways of caring for you."

 
I am so very blessed.
 
  Thus we may say with confidence:
“The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?
Hebrews 13:6
 

 
 


Sunday, November 30, 2014

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR AUTHORS & PUBLISHERS

 

 
Twas' the night before Christmas, with laptop in tow,
I sit by the window that looks out on the snow.
With the family all tucked in, I have quiet to write
a couple of chapters before I call it a night.

The ticking I hear from the grandfather clock
is a deadline reminder which brings writer's block.
The words are all floating around in my brain,
and I can't seem to catch them, I'm going insane!

The screen of my laptop continues to shine,
it may as well flash a “vacancy” sign.
Maybe spiked coffee would help in my plight,
as my keyboard awaits my fingers to light.

The beverage, though tasty, fails to produce,
the screen remains blank, this is mental abuse!
The tick-tock continues; I stand up in defeat,
I hear a strange noise, so I slow my retreat.

Then all of a sudden a vision appears,
if it isn't a sleigh pulled by eight cute reindeer!
Here comes Santa himself, now I know I'm insane,
I have to be dreaming, or the coffee's to blame.

With a sweet jolly voice, he starts to speak,
assuring me things aren't really that bleak.
He says, "No need to panic, the words will come soon,
you're focused too much on the deadline that looms.

Just look through that window, embrace what you see,
take it all in, from that block you'll be freed".
He dismantles the clock before fading from sight, and
says, “Merry Christmas, now sit down and write!”
 
 
Merry Christmas & God Bless!
 
Patti J. Smith
aka Gridiron Granny
 

Friday, November 28, 2014

We Need to Talk


 
 
It happens to all of us. We wake up feeling uneasy. We shrug it off, crawl out of bed and begin our day.  Unfortunately, that feeling stalks us every second, minute and hour. No matter what we do we can't seem to shake it. Pressure is building up behind the weakening dam in our eyes that is threatening to rupture, releasing torrents of tears.

In my case, those days are a direct result of focusing on all the chaos life brings and not giving myself enough quiet time with God.  I believe that feeling is a message from Him saying,  "We need to talk".   



 

 

 

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

BEFORE GRATITUDE


Thursday, we will be expressing our gratitude for all of God's blessings, but how can we sincerely express gratitude if we are carrying resentments towards someone?  We can't.  So before the festivities begin, let's put ourselves in a quiet place with God and be freed from the negativity that is suppressing our thanksgiving by praying:





Father God, I choose, as an act of my will, to forgive (person's name) for (specific offense.) Father, I ask that you forgive (person's name) as well; and not hold these charges against him/her on my account. 

Father God, if there are any more stored up negative feelings in me towards (person's name), I ask that you cleanse me.  I will be open to replace these negative emotions with the fruit of your Holy Spirit.

Father, Your Holy Word tells us that we overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, and the word of our testimony. I now plead the blood of Jesus over this offense and over my unforgiveness. Lord, do not allow Satan to interfere with my testimony. 

Heavenly Father, I ask that you help me regain the ground that I gave up when I held onto these offenses. I ask that you take back this ground and no longer allow Satan to operate there. Give me wisdom to deal with this situation in the future.

Father, I ask that you heal now the wounded places in my soul. Heal my memory of those offenses so that I can look back on them realistically, knowing that You have healed me. Now Father, I ask that you bless (person's name) with Your abundant mercy.

Prosper him/her in every way: body, soul, and spirit. AMEN. 



(Prayer written by Mark Hargrave www.markhargrave.com/forgiveness)
 

Monday, November 24, 2014

Thankful and Blessed





Thanksgiving is a few days away which means my mind is in overdrive on those
things for which I am thankful.

Although this blog post has potential of being the longest in blogosphere history, I will refrain myself from expounding on everything.  (Now that’s something you can add to your “thankful” list!).

     My husband is my rock and I am very blessed.  Marriage is a series of ups and downs, and regardless of how bad the “downs” get, Michael is always there with unconditional love and constant encouragement.

     My dad and uncle who trust me enough to care for them.  They bring daily joy as well as entertainment.  I love hearing their life experiences (which may end up in a book someday).

    My mom who, although not here physically, continues to guide me with her example of faith and courage.

    My son and step-daughter, their spouses and children who are a source of great love and pride.

     My extended family of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins that have consistently shown compassion and support.

    My friends who put up with me, “warts and all”, and are always there to offer their understanding and wisdom.

     My publisher and author friends who guide, teach and inspire me every day.
 
 My prayer is that I, in turn, do the same for all of them.

Most importantly, I am thankful for the love and mercy I receive from God each and every day.  I’m sure He watches me at times, shakes His head saying, “Patti, Patti, Patti” … But, hopefully, there are also times He smiles and says, “Good job”. 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

An Exercise in Serenity

I like to be in control and foolishly try to handle problems all by myself, and end up carrying them around like a stone necklace.  It's only when the necklace get too heavy that I humbly, albeit, reluctantly, take it to the Foot of the Cross. Although the weight is lifted and replaced with serenity, my ego gets in the way and I take it back ... Guess what?  The necklace is heavier the second time around. 



"Letting Go, and Letting God" is difficult for a control freak ...but using the following "Exercise in Serenity" has proven to be quite helpful:

MATERIALS

*A box with a slot, lock and key.
*A pen.
*A piece of paper

DIRECTIONS

*On the piece of paper, write down your problems.
*Fold the paper and drop it in the box.
*Throw away the key and
*Say this prayer:

Heavenly Father, with faith and trust I turn these problems over to you.  I believe You and only You hold the key to serenity.  Amen.







Sunday, October 12, 2014

MASKS



Advertisements for Halloween costumes are all over the place right now, and ... uh, oh ... it got me thinking.

We all wear masks from time to time; we have to.  There are situations where our true feelings or reactions would not be socially acceptable or, in the worse case scenario ... even illegal.  What we need to realize is there is one mask we wear that can interfere with our lives.  A false persona is created ... usually due to the unfortunate notion of not being good enough.  That notion subsequently prevents us from forming a genuine relationship with God and others.

God doesn't make mistakes.  We need to trust Him ~ remember, He created each one of us in His image.  We need to embrace who we are; establish an honest relationship with ourselves.  Then, and only then, can we form a true and lasting relationship with Him and others.

Psalms 139:13-14

You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works!
My very self you know.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

A Much Needed Visit



I'm not one to sleep much, but when I do grab a few winks, I have vivid dreams.  Most of them are disjointed and downright weird; however, last night was different ... my mom came to visit.  We talked, laughed and cried. Sitting here now, I can still smell the perfume she always wore (Shalimar).

When others were fooled by my happy face, mom always had the ability to read me and know when I'm struggling.  I know that's why God sent her to me last night ... to hear her soothing and encouraging voice telling me that everything will be alright.

I woke up feeling better, albeit a bit teary-eyed, missing her....but I looked up, and as I always said to her after our earthly heart-to-heart talks, "You're right mom, thanks, I love you."




Saturday, October 4, 2014

YOU ASKED FOR IT, YOU GOT IT!





The Helping Hands Press Store is NOW OPEN! Buy any paperback and get FREE SHIPPING anywhere is the USA! For our friends in the rest of the World there is a generous discount to help with shipping!

HERE'S JUST A FEW  OF THE 
CLICK HERE - HAPPY

SHOPPING!
WONDERFUL BOOKS AVAILABLE:














Monday, September 29, 2014

HOPE?




With a blog handle of Gridiron Granny Football Fanatic, football will be a topic from time to time. This is one of those times ... in fact, for fantasy football, probably the last time (sob).

It is week four of the fantasy season and do you know what my record is?
0 - 4.  That's right ... after all my post-draft/pre-season smack talk against my opponents, here I sit - 12th place (out of twelve, by the way).

I've lost four (averaging one per week) top players, and replacing them has been difficult because all the good ones have already been scooped up.

Recap Week One:  Sackmaster Mike (1-0) (My husband no-less) beat me in a tight match:  107 - 105.  I was the first to put up points and actually reached 20-0. That lead slipped away like a wet spaghetti noodle.

Recap Week Two:  I had two great players score zero points ...  Zero, Nada, Zilch, and wound up in last place.   

Recap Week Three:  My extremely talented running back scored zero points....why?  He broke his ankle in the first quarter (I do feel bad for him, it was a season ending injury).  I'm proudly holding steady in 12th place with a 0-3 record. No one is even close to taking away my esteemed position.

This Week:  My regular quarterback is on a bye, so I had to use a back-up.  I wasn't concerned because last week that particular QB scored 35 points. This week:  5.  He decided it was more fun to throw to the other team. Right now I have 72 points to my opponent's 177....Monday Night Football is coming and I have one player left. Think it's too much to ask a kicker to close the gap?  

Don't get me wrong, I'm not giving up ... just needed to vent a little.  Being one of strong faith, I know God would not want me to lose hope.  So.... I'm going to pull up my big girl panties and face my future opponents with head held high and boundless determination ... and if not successful, there is always next year.......















Saturday, September 27, 2014

The Blank Zone

There's nothing more frightening for a writer -- staring at a blank page. Deep within our souls the words are there, but something keeps them from reaching the tips of our fingers and onto the keyboard.  It's the dreaded writer's block.  If I had a dollar for every time that has happened, I'd be able to afford Seattle Seahawks season tickets on the second level, fifty yard line -- plus the funds fly up there for every game.

When entering the "blank zone," I either stare at the computer screen hoping words miraculously appear or close my eyes, take a deep breath and pray. You'd think the latter would be automatic, but nooooo, not for me. I sometimes get a crazy notion I'm in control, and end up wasting a considerable amount of time frustrated with a strong desire to throw the laptop out the window ... and I know God is watching, shaking His head and smiling.

When faced with a blank page, be it while writing or waking to a new day, we need to look upwards and say, "Okay, God, it's all yours."  We will, at times, succumb to self-will; we're human.  Be comforted knowing all He wants us to do is try ... He expects progress not perfection.


Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely;
In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NABRE)







Thursday, September 25, 2014

A Subtle Warning


"So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides."
Matthew 6:31-33 (NABRE)




I've been overachieving in the "worry department" lately to the point of distraction and carelessness. In fact, I became so preoccupied I did something I'd never done before -- I lost my cell phone.  

After chastising myself for being so scatterbrained, it got me thinking (look out folks, here it comes):  Life is full of distractions, and if we are not careful, we will lose more than a cell phone. We'll lose focus on what's really important ~ Our daily contact with God.

I believe He was sending me a subtle warning … I was letting life rather than Him be in control.  Had I turned everything over, I would not have been overwhelmed in the first place. A cell phone is a small price to pay to avoid a detour on my faith journey. 



Saturday, September 20, 2014

God works in mysterious ways....


I wrote the following post on August 20th:

"This last Saturday my husband and I were sitting in the living room, enjoying dinner and watching television.  The front door opened and in walked a scraggly blonde young man we'd never seen before.  He took off his jacket and hat and dropped them on the floor and said, "Hi."  Startled, the only thing I could mutter was, "Who are you, what are you doing and why did you walk into our home without knocking?"  He said he was sorry but was looking for his friends but couldn't remember where they lived. I advised him his friends were not here and politely asked him to leave. He looked hurt and hesitated for a moment, so I stood up and escorted him out.  It was the oddest experience I'd ever had, and it wasn't until a few hours later that I began to feel the fear. I reported the incident to the Sheriff and found out later the young man was arrested later that night for attempting to steal a car, and that he was definitely under the influence of drugs. God was watching over me and my family that afternoon. Had I reacted angrily or with fear, the outcome may have been disastrous."



~~UPDATE~~

Yesterday, I was totally immersed in my current work in progress when the doorbell rang. I bristled at the interruption and was tempted to ignore it.  Standing on the porch was the same young man. His clothes were clean, his hair cut and he was shaking. I double-checked the screen door lock, worrying that he was there to confront me about calling the police, but I was happily mistaken. He had come over to tell me he was entering a sober living facility to get clean ... which explained his shaking ... withdrawal. 

I unlocked the door and joined him on the porch. I told him I understood what he was going through and how happy I was that he was on the right path.  His face lit up when I shared my struggle with addiction (alcohol) and the fact I had been sober for almost seventeen years. He was obviously scared and I did my best to encourage him. I  grabbed an inspirational book on addiction (we have a large collection) as well as my book, "Moments with God", which includes my personal story of recovery.  Before he left, we hugged and I told him he would be in my prayers.

God works in mysterious ways ... Of all the homes that young man could have entered that night, it was ours. Jeremiah 29:11:  "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you...." 

Heavenly Father, please hold that young man in Your comforting and healing arms and give him the strength and perseverance to succeed.  Thank you for bringing him into my life, as a reminder of how You held me during my struggles. With a humble heart I pray my words to him conveyed what he needed to hear ... You are with him, he is loved and there is hope.   

Amen  

     











Thursday, September 4, 2014

Complacency and Consequences



A.W. Tozar wisely said, "Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth."  I find it even more deadly for those of us who have made great strides in our spiritual journey after overcoming a godless past.

Once we reach out for Christ and walk with Him, our lives change. We rejoice in His mercy and finally come to terms with our failings and forgive ourselves. We commit ourselves to Him and our new lives.  Then, years later, it happens ... We are happy, comfortable and at peace -  but instead of moving forward on the road to spiritual growth, we pull off at a rest stop.  

At first we reduce our prayer time, then miss a few church services, and before we know it, progress comes to a screeching halt. We are oblivious to the fact Satan has been patiently waiting.  He smiles and says, "Aha!  It's time."  He tempts us with behaviors from our past by warping our memories. We remember adventure, fun and excitement and forget about the disastrous consequences - and we think, why not?  

If we do not remain steadfast in fighting complacency, we will surely return to the path of self-destruction rather than redemption. 


Matthew 7:26
"And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not
act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand."




Tuesday, September 2, 2014

A Bittersweet Day



My birthday is coming up on September 5th, the first birthday without my mom. She always made my birthdays special growing up and did even up until last year, and I was 60!  

I consider myself truly blessed to have had my mom for 60 years, and doubly blessed to have her live with us for the last two.  I know on Friday I'll wake up, and for a split second, expect to hear her and my dad sing a rousing version of Happy Birthday and I'll tear up hearing my dad singing alone.

It will be a bittersweet day for me, but I can look back and remember the biggest blessing of all ... She held me in her arms on September 5, 1953 and said hello, and I held her on February 12, 2014 and said good bye.  And...if I listen hard enough I'm sure I'll hear her singing from Heaven.


Sunday, August 31, 2014

EMPTY NEST



I have been burning the midnight oil writing, rewriting, and editing the third volume in my Grave Obsessions series and finally submitted it to my wonderful publisher, Helping Hands Press.  The minute I hit "send" it was as if my child left for college.  I began to instantly suffer from empty-nest syndrome ... My thoughts had been consumed by the story, regardless where I was or what I was doing.  Even when retiring for the night (or at 4 a.m. in my case), my thoughts then and waking up were of the next chapter or a new plot twist - what am I to do now?

This is something I experience at the end of each project.  The emptiness doesn't last long as I have three other projects in the works, but for a few days I find myself a little sad and wondering how my child is doing so far away from home.

Grave Obsessions - Volume III - Shackled Souls is available for pre-order now!  Click here: http://ow.ly/AOyIq

Children of prominent San Diego citizens are disappearing. Detective Dallas Keegan returns to work and is assigned this heart wrenching case with a new partner, hired while she was on leave. Neither are aware the children are victims of a child laundering enterprise headed by a man determined to reap the financial rewards and notoriety as well.



Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Life Interrupted


Well folks, it's almost here!  Fantasy Football starts in a little over a week.

As a writer, I struggle with stress due to deadlines, rewrites and editing, but the stress involved in Fantasy Football is different ... and excruciating.  The minute I got a reminder from Yahoo that it's time to get my league together, my blood pressure spiked and the competitor came out of hibernation.

This is what my life will be like during the season:

1.  Adding and dropping players in the middle of the night before anyone else gets a chance to grab the "good ones."

2.  Researching weekly statistics and projections daily for upcoming games ... adjusting my roster accordingly.

3.  Laptop, cell phone, television and Ipad tuned into games on Sunday (So many players, so little devices.)

4.  Fighting the temptation to turn on my cell phone and check my player points while singing in the church choir on Sundays.  (Thank goodness we sing on Saturday nights a lot!)

5.  Trying to keep my smack talk "clean".

6.  Checking injury and illness reports daily.

7.  Expecting to explain and prove to the neighbors (or cops at the door) there is no domestic dispute going on...

8.  Making sure I have plenty of comfort food for those bad weeks.

9.  Trying to keep my promise to my dentist that I won't grit my teeth.

10. Most importantly, constantly reminding myself meals won't cook themselves, laundry will not fold itself, the house will not clean itself, and the dogs can't open the door themselves.


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

FACING CHALLENGES WITH FAITH






Life somehow finds a way to pull the rug out from under us. During those times of despair we have two choices:  1) Hit the floor and stay there or 2) Grab His hand and rise.





The following is an excerpt from "Embrace the Morning - Rosary Meditations to Calm the Storm."


Luke 22:39-42: Then going out he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.”After withdrawing about a stone's throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.”

Jesus, in his agony, remained steadfast in accepting the Father's will. We too are faced with agony in our life, and need to hold fast to the belief that God is with us. He will not saddle us with more than we can endure. In His mercy, he will give us the fortitude to withstand anything that comes our way – if we let Him.

Let us pray:

Jesus, in your agony you turned to the Father in faith and trust, knowing he would never forsake you. When I am faced with challenges in my life, may my faith and trust emulate yours.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

HE IS MY REFUGE

This last Saturday my husband and I were sitting in the living room, enjoying dinner and watching televison.  The front door opened and in walked a scraggly blonde young man we'd never seen before.  He took off his jacket and hat and dropped them on the floor and said, "Hi."  Startled, the only thing I could mutter was, "Who are you, what are you doing and why did you walk into our home without knocking?"  He said he was sorry but was looking for his friends but couldn't remember where they lived. I advised him his friends were not here and politely asked him to leave.  He looked hurt and hesitated for a moment, so I stood up and escorted him out.  It was the oddest experience I'd ever had and it wasn't until a few hours later that I began to feel the fear.  

I reported the incident to the Sheriff and found out later the young man was arrested later that night for attempting to steal a car, and that he was definitely under the influence of drugs. God was definitely watching over me and my family that afternoon. Had I reacted angrily or with fear, the outcome may have been disastrous.  

2 Samuel 22:3
 My God, my rock of refuge! My shield, my saving horn,
my stronghold, my refuge,my savior, from violence you keep me safe.

I pray God watches over that young man and guides him in a new direction.


Sunday, August 17, 2014

Walking Away


From "A Mended Heart - Rosary Meditations on Forgiveness"

"Admitting fault is difficult enough but asking for forgiveness is one of the most difficult and humbling experiences we can face.  Pride and embarrassment sometimes holds us back, but we know it is absolutely necessary to admit our faults and make amends. We become vulnerable in our humility and repentance; we are sincere and anticipate forgiveness.
Unfortunately, there are some who refuse to forgive.  The past is continually recalled, and we are constantly rebuked.  Carrying grudges instead of forgiving inhibits the ability to be truly happy and creates a detachment from God and His will.  Whatever the transgression, there is nothing that cannot be forgiven.  Jesus sets the ultimate example."

If someone in our life refuses to forgive, we have to accept it and let go. If we don't, that person becomes toxic and we are at risk of being affected emotionally and spiritually.  It's okay to be protective and walk away, as long as it's done without malice and with a forgiving heart.






Saturday, August 16, 2014

An Ounce of Prevention ...



I recently met with my priest for confession, and one of the things I had to admit was missing Mass. By the time I made my appointment to meet with him, I was miserable.

In all honesty, I knew what was wrong, but needed to hear it from my confessor. Consumed by life's distractions; I lost focus and took a detour on my faith journey.  More Masses missed, more distance from God.  Instead of being filled with the Holy Spirit, I was deluged with fear, anxiety, sadness and restlessness.

I dreaded returning after so many absences, and when I dipped my fingers in the holy water, I halfway expected it to burn my skin.  That didn't happen, of course, and when I knelt down, facing the altar and the crucified Christ, a sense of calm slowly returned.  When I accepted the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit coursed throughout my body and soul.  I was whole again.

Lesson Learned:  Benjamin Franklin said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Attending and participating in weekly Mass keeps me connected to God and prevents me from becoming spiritually bankrupt and suffering the despair that follows.