What do I have to offer???? can normally be found in "what do YOU need?"
I received a letter from a sponsor boy the other day and would like to share that simplicity of his life with you. His is about 13 years old and he writes; Cordial greeting full of love and happiness hoping may God always protect you. He continues on with a school report that classes are getting harder but he is doing good. He is learning English and enjoys it along with working on computers. This is the part that caught me; everything is turning green and giving new life to all the plants and the trees. This is the season on which my brother and I go to look for fruits in the afternoon. All the afternoons are great because I enjoyed from all the nature of that surrounds me.
As I had time to spend with my sons this last weekend that same thought crossed my mind. I remember taking that breath of fresh air, listening to the trees and feeling the warmth of the sun. I thought what a beautiful day (which overshadowed the pain of the ball going into the trees).
How often we rush through life, missing those simple gifts God has given us to experience His love for us. Thank you Yony for reminding me to take time to enjoy the beauty of not only nature, but of our family as well.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Pride/Humility
Not a story I would normally share, but worth the humility for the lesson it taught. The story starts off as a normal day when (I need some little ones to help put some color in this story) I decided to venture to the garden to reap my toils. As pride has it, boy this garden looks good, and over the fence I go. Picking the choice goods and back over the fence, except this time, left foot out first. Even as I did it I thought; not a good idea, but no problem, except when I went to lift the right leg over the fence, now a problem. Pant leg caught on the fence and as the world moved up to meet me, or was it me moving down, I remember the adjusting thought of how exactly was I going to land. The sound my shoulder made on impact suggested that my previous decision was not a good one. Doctor visit, Xray, Doctor visit, and how about some therapy. Ok I can handle that, does that include golf, I think you know the answer to that.
Well, first to the computer for some research, shoulder therapy, ah yes, I will get a jump on things. A week goes by and the phone call comes in to schedule my therapy. Set up with a nice young lady, Jill, who is new to the field but very good. She did all the checks then came the time for the exercises. As she dished them out I informed her I have been doing all of them already. She was good with that and made a couple suggestions on the procedures.
After a couple weeks working with me I decided that I was done. Jill asked me how I was doing and then had me do some of the exercises. Naturally I did more, longer and harder that she asked for. She suggested I take it easy as it was not a good idea to go overboard on these exercises. I informed her that I did not have much patients for inabilities and she laughed and said that she could see that. From that point on she took me through several different exercises and did her own pushing. When we got done she said I will see you in a couple days and I said lets stretch it out. We came to an agreement of ten days with the understanding that if I was having any trouble I was to call and come it, (that aint going to happen).
Now to the meat of this blog. My ten days passed but not without their problems. For the first few days I could hardly move my shoulder and I did not exercise it because it was so tender. After a few, I can't believe I am taking pain pills, I knew I had to start exercising before I had to go back. My arrival was greeted by Jill's friendly question of how I was doing. I smiled at her and said not bad but a little sore. She smiled, and I asked her if she was trying to teach me a lesson, again a smile. I told her she really worked me over on the past visit and I was really sore, again only a smile. I guess I know who is in control here. She worked with me and I backed way off. She asked me how I was doing and I told her I wasn't going to tell her, after what she did to me last week, I had learned my lesson. She responded with her normal smile and suggested some exercise along with the comment not to overdo it.
I left that day with a different outlook; a respect for her and what she was doing and a more humble look at me and how I should be doing it. So the saying goes; never to old to learn, and I add never to young to teach it.
Well, first to the computer for some research, shoulder therapy, ah yes, I will get a jump on things. A week goes by and the phone call comes in to schedule my therapy. Set up with a nice young lady, Jill, who is new to the field but very good. She did all the checks then came the time for the exercises. As she dished them out I informed her I have been doing all of them already. She was good with that and made a couple suggestions on the procedures.
After a couple weeks working with me I decided that I was done. Jill asked me how I was doing and then had me do some of the exercises. Naturally I did more, longer and harder that she asked for. She suggested I take it easy as it was not a good idea to go overboard on these exercises. I informed her that I did not have much patients for inabilities and she laughed and said that she could see that. From that point on she took me through several different exercises and did her own pushing. When we got done she said I will see you in a couple days and I said lets stretch it out. We came to an agreement of ten days with the understanding that if I was having any trouble I was to call and come it, (that aint going to happen).
Now to the meat of this blog. My ten days passed but not without their problems. For the first few days I could hardly move my shoulder and I did not exercise it because it was so tender. After a few, I can't believe I am taking pain pills, I knew I had to start exercising before I had to go back. My arrival was greeted by Jill's friendly question of how I was doing. I smiled at her and said not bad but a little sore. She smiled, and I asked her if she was trying to teach me a lesson, again a smile. I told her she really worked me over on the past visit and I was really sore, again only a smile. I guess I know who is in control here. She worked with me and I backed way off. She asked me how I was doing and I told her I wasn't going to tell her, after what she did to me last week, I had learned my lesson. She responded with her normal smile and suggested some exercise along with the comment not to overdo it.
I left that day with a different outlook; a respect for her and what she was doing and a more humble look at me and how I should be doing it. So the saying goes; never to old to learn, and I add never to young to teach it.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Summer Travel
On our way across Iowa to the middle of the state to a small town of Boone Iowa there is a slight side trip to Williamsburg Iowa along the way. Unlike the long ago past which placed the car in the ditch and the two of us in the hospital, this one only put my checkbook in the ditch and my bank account in the hospital. All in all there were some good buys and lots of "how does this look" that need to be answered.
On our arrival at Boone we were greeted by the local police, I am sure that is why they were sitting at the side of the road. We pasted a stock car race and went up and down the main street searching for a motel, church, and the train station. What we found was the motel was full and every time we crossed the tracks we had to wait for a train. I have never seen so many trains in one day, it must have been every half hour that one went through that town. The motel search took us around the countryside, corn, beans, old farm house, old cities, wait, I think we are running out of gas. My co-pilot is somewhat laughing although it is getting darker and darker and she worried that something is going to happen and we will be stuck out here in the middle of nowhere. Ah yes a hundred miles later and we are back in Ames which I was informed was only about fifteen miles from were we started, no comment.
The adventure was great, the train ride memorable, the weekend delightful, even the nine holes of golf in Marshalltown, of which someone beat me on the last two holes.
Final words, take time to enjoy Gods creation, take time to enjoy your spouse, take time to just take time. If there is only one thing I received from my visit to the homebound and care facilities is everyone I have spoken to have said the same thing, take time, life is too short to waist it. I am blessed to know the things I know and am more blessed to be able do the things I do with the one that God has blessed me with as I becomes U, sharing our life and love together, it is worth working for, it is worth waiting for. I pray you all get to experience it.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Grandparents
Hey you.... no I am grandpa... hey you... no I am grandpa..... hey you.... whatever... what? Or grandma... no I am grandpa..... grandma---- and so on.... giggle.
What is it like being a grandparent, hmmm, it is like being a parent once removed. You have the responsibility of still being a parent but you have the joy of bending those rules that you couldn't when you were a parent. You get to enjoy the little goofs instead of correcting them you ad to them to make them more goofy. The spills and accidents become the joy of I have something to do besides clean up my messes. Instead of being looked at as the bad guy or the iron hand, you have this little bunch of joy out of no where grab you and hug you, then run away. There is so much more but each one will experience it just as you experience being a parent, one day at a time, some good, some better, and some great. As a grandparent very seldom do you experience those parent days of; not so good.
On the lighter side, there is this wonderful relief of not being mothered by a wife who loved and loves being a mother. Thank you for grandchildern Lord, you have given me a break.... :) :) I can actually drop something now and pick it up myself. As she puts it, I should be thankful that she wants to do it for me..... I AM.... ( I need my diaper changed) her comment (I am not ready for that yet).
So I learn from the grandchildern, smile a lot, play a lot, enjoy a lot, and have a melt down every now and then, then go back to; smile a lot, play a lot, and enjoy a lot.
Thank you parents for the gift of teaching us how to be parents, and thank you parents for the gift of making us grand parents, it is truely an honorary degree....
What is it like being a grandparent, hmmm, it is like being a parent once removed. You have the responsibility of still being a parent but you have the joy of bending those rules that you couldn't when you were a parent. You get to enjoy the little goofs instead of correcting them you ad to them to make them more goofy. The spills and accidents become the joy of I have something to do besides clean up my messes. Instead of being looked at as the bad guy or the iron hand, you have this little bunch of joy out of no where grab you and hug you, then run away. There is so much more but each one will experience it just as you experience being a parent, one day at a time, some good, some better, and some great. As a grandparent very seldom do you experience those parent days of; not so good.
On the lighter side, there is this wonderful relief of not being mothered by a wife who loved and loves being a mother. Thank you for grandchildern Lord, you have given me a break.... :) :) I can actually drop something now and pick it up myself. As she puts it, I should be thankful that she wants to do it for me..... I AM.... ( I need my diaper changed) her comment (I am not ready for that yet).
So I learn from the grandchildern, smile a lot, play a lot, enjoy a lot, and have a melt down every now and then, then go back to; smile a lot, play a lot, and enjoy a lot.
Thank you parents for the gift of teaching us how to be parents, and thank you parents for the gift of making us grand parents, it is truely an honorary degree....
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Beautiful Picture
How many times have you looked at a picture and just are in awe at its beauty. Sometimes we look at peoples lives and say the same thing. Everything seems to be in place everything seems to be what you want your life to be like. But what we don't see a lot of the time is what went into making that picture or that life. The background, the foundation, is hidden from clear view by the subject matter.
We were at a meeting the other night were got into a conversation with a man in his 40. He owns his own business and is doing very well with it. He is married and has 4 children of which the oldest is a teenager and the youngest I believe was eight. He is Vietnamese, has a house, car, and is doing well financially. He is active in his parish and is called on by the Priest whenever there is a marriage problem within the Vietnamese community. He goes and talks to the couple which is having problems and tries to help them work out their differences. His own family meets for 2 hours every Friday night around 8pm at the kitchen table for what they call a, "no parents night". Every one sits down, parents included, and tells what they have been doing all week, what was good and what was bad, and what they might need help with. There is more but I think you can image what the picture looks like.
Now for the background. This picture was started when this man came to the United States, maybe around the age of 19. He did not know anyone, he could not speak English, he had no money, or higher education. When asked what he did, he said " he prayed". Every morning when he got up he prayed that he would have a good day and every night he prayed in thanksgiving for all that the day had brought him. He asked Mary to watch over him and to protect him. He learned English from listening, and watching television and from other people around him. He said every day he still prays in the morning for help in the day and every night prays in thanksgiving for all his blessings. When he is asked to go visit a troubled family he said he prays to Mary that she will put the words in his mouth, and use him to help this family in need. Then when he is done visiting with that family he prays in thanksgiving to Mary for helping him and using him to help that family.
As we go through life enjoying God's picture album, I guess we have to remember at one time it was a blank canvas.
We were at a meeting the other night were got into a conversation with a man in his 40. He owns his own business and is doing very well with it. He is married and has 4 children of which the oldest is a teenager and the youngest I believe was eight. He is Vietnamese, has a house, car, and is doing well financially. He is active in his parish and is called on by the Priest whenever there is a marriage problem within the Vietnamese community. He goes and talks to the couple which is having problems and tries to help them work out their differences. His own family meets for 2 hours every Friday night around 8pm at the kitchen table for what they call a, "no parents night". Every one sits down, parents included, and tells what they have been doing all week, what was good and what was bad, and what they might need help with. There is more but I think you can image what the picture looks like.
Now for the background. This picture was started when this man came to the United States, maybe around the age of 19. He did not know anyone, he could not speak English, he had no money, or higher education. When asked what he did, he said " he prayed". Every morning when he got up he prayed that he would have a good day and every night he prayed in thanksgiving for all that the day had brought him. He asked Mary to watch over him and to protect him. He learned English from listening, and watching television and from other people around him. He said every day he still prays in the morning for help in the day and every night prays in thanksgiving for all his blessings. When he is asked to go visit a troubled family he said he prays to Mary that she will put the words in his mouth, and use him to help this family in need. Then when he is done visiting with that family he prays in thanksgiving to Mary for helping him and using him to help that family.
As we go through life enjoying God's picture album, I guess we have to remember at one time it was a blank canvas.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Our Lady of the Snow
Here we are, June already. The month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which brings to mind a little story to share.
It was back several years ago a lady had asked me to do a retreat to Our Lady of the Snow down by St. Louis. I told her we would see what the cost would be and talk about it for a future retreat. As it went, a couple years passed, but we finally put together a package and the end of October we gather some 25 people on a bus and headed for Our Lady of the Snow. We could not have picked a more beautiful time to go as the leaves were changing and the Church was full of roses (completely full) in memory of the feast of All Souls. When we arrived we were going to do the Stations of the Cross, but as all good plans go for some reason or another the grounds which were suppose to be lit up were totally dark. We were informed later that they were changing over from their summer schedule to their winter schedule. As the story goes on I did not know much about this place but in an introduction we were told the site were the founder was buried was in the Mary Garden. I went down the road and located it and went in, knelt down by Mary's statue and the tomb of the founder and prayed for all who were on this retreat and that it would be a good retreat. It was pitch dark, because of the previous mentioned light problem, so I got up and carefully walked out of the garden. When I got to the corner I noticed a rose bush and I turned back around and said this prayer: "Dear Jesus I offer you red roses all wet with the dew of your grace, let every word, every thought, every action and my heart I give as their vase. I make this offering through Mary your mother whose heart is so sinlessly white, whiter than the wings of the angels who dwelt and prayed here all night. Dear Jesus I ask you but one favor, that you inflame my poor heart with your love, so while I toil in this valley my spirit may dwell far above". At the very moment that the last word came out of my mouth the lights came on and I found myself amidst a garden full of rose bushes. A powerful prayer, oh yes, but the power was that my prayer was heard and I was not to worry, we got them there and He would take care the rest.
Sometimes the Lord has to give me a pretty strong sign to get me out of the picture so He can do what needs to be done.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Have Mercy on us and forgive us our sins.
It was back several years ago a lady had asked me to do a retreat to Our Lady of the Snow down by St. Louis. I told her we would see what the cost would be and talk about it for a future retreat. As it went, a couple years passed, but we finally put together a package and the end of October we gather some 25 people on a bus and headed for Our Lady of the Snow. We could not have picked a more beautiful time to go as the leaves were changing and the Church was full of roses (completely full) in memory of the feast of All Souls. When we arrived we were going to do the Stations of the Cross, but as all good plans go for some reason or another the grounds which were suppose to be lit up were totally dark. We were informed later that they were changing over from their summer schedule to their winter schedule. As the story goes on I did not know much about this place but in an introduction we were told the site were the founder was buried was in the Mary Garden. I went down the road and located it and went in, knelt down by Mary's statue and the tomb of the founder and prayed for all who were on this retreat and that it would be a good retreat. It was pitch dark, because of the previous mentioned light problem, so I got up and carefully walked out of the garden. When I got to the corner I noticed a rose bush and I turned back around and said this prayer: "Dear Jesus I offer you red roses all wet with the dew of your grace, let every word, every thought, every action and my heart I give as their vase. I make this offering through Mary your mother whose heart is so sinlessly white, whiter than the wings of the angels who dwelt and prayed here all night. Dear Jesus I ask you but one favor, that you inflame my poor heart with your love, so while I toil in this valley my spirit may dwell far above". At the very moment that the last word came out of my mouth the lights came on and I found myself amidst a garden full of rose bushes. A powerful prayer, oh yes, but the power was that my prayer was heard and I was not to worry, we got them there and He would take care the rest.
Sometimes the Lord has to give me a pretty strong sign to get me out of the picture so He can do what needs to be done.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Have Mercy on us and forgive us our sins.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Can hardly believe a month has slipped by already. They always say the older you get the faster it goes or is it, the older you get the slower, you, go. Whatever the case may be that is what this little blog is about as well.
There are several things that come up and I think; wow, that was a good lesson, but of those things very few do I retain. One did happen the other day at the Kahl home. After Mass was over I usually help get those in the wheel chairs down to the elevator for lunch. There were just a few there this day and I had taken one down already and when I got back into the Chapel I did not see another. I turned to sit down and looked up again and there was a lady in a wheel chair trying to move it. My first thought was how did I miss seeing her, then I went up to help her. I told her I was sorry that I did not see her and asked if she wanted some help and she responded with a direct, yes. I started to push her and stated to her that her chair was really hard to push and she reaffirmed that and that she really appreciated me helping her because it was really hard for her to move. I took a quick glance at the brakes as I was pushing and did not notice them locked, I pushed a little further and took a closer look and for sure the one brake was on. I stated to her that her one brake was on and that was why it was so hard to push, she acknowledged and we went on.
My thought, how many times do we struggle with challenges in life, drugging ahead, when all we have to do is stop and take the brake off.
In my case the brake has been on so long that it is almost worn off.... I am going to have to get it replaced so "I" doesn't run into "U".
There are several things that come up and I think; wow, that was a good lesson, but of those things very few do I retain. One did happen the other day at the Kahl home. After Mass was over I usually help get those in the wheel chairs down to the elevator for lunch. There were just a few there this day and I had taken one down already and when I got back into the Chapel I did not see another. I turned to sit down and looked up again and there was a lady in a wheel chair trying to move it. My first thought was how did I miss seeing her, then I went up to help her. I told her I was sorry that I did not see her and asked if she wanted some help and she responded with a direct, yes. I started to push her and stated to her that her chair was really hard to push and she reaffirmed that and that she really appreciated me helping her because it was really hard for her to move. I took a quick glance at the brakes as I was pushing and did not notice them locked, I pushed a little further and took a closer look and for sure the one brake was on. I stated to her that her one brake was on and that was why it was so hard to push, she acknowledged and we went on.
My thought, how many times do we struggle with challenges in life, drugging ahead, when all we have to do is stop and take the brake off.
In my case the brake has been on so long that it is almost worn off.... I am going to have to get it replaced so "I" doesn't run into "U".
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