Just Do Your Best

Just Do Your Best

As my boys bring another soccer season to a close and soon summer days will end and school days will be here again; I hear them lament over the “goals” they did not achieve.

That’s right this soccer season neither one of them ever scored a goal.

This provided a wonderful opportunity for me to reflect with them on the importance of team work and team effort.

Our youngest also hoped he would have mastered riding a bicycle without training wheels by now, unfortunately he has not. When I spoke with him about what he did and what he could have done differently, we realized he really did not practice as much as he could have.

This of course got me thinking about how God loves us. You see, I would have really enjoyed witnessing my boys score a goal for their team, or master riding a bicycle, however, what I have really enjoyed this summer was watching them play soccer, they went on that field and they played with their heart, for the good of their team.

While our younger son did not master riding a bicycle, he did manage to learn how to push himself on the swing without my help. A few short weeks ago, he needed a boost from me all the time. Now he is swinging pretty high without me. In time I know he’ll be committed to practicing more on his bike, and he’ll achieve that goal as well.

God knows we won’t always achieve our goals; He knows we will fail, stumble and falter on our way to achieving holiness. He wants our very best, effort. He wants us to live each day, like my boys play – with our whole heart.

So that is my new motto: I’ll give God my very best, I’ll give him my whole heart.

Sin is Sin - no matter what you call it

Today instead of expressing this in my own words, I am directing you to read an article by Daniel Kuebler on Catholic.net who has already said it so eloquently.

Please do read the article and God Bless.

"Sanitization of Sin"

A Testimony: The Birth of Our Son: 10 years ago

The Story of the birth of our son: 10 years ago

Today I will share a personal testimony of a time I know the Lord was at work in my life and in my family’s life, it was at the time of our oldest son’s birth, 10 years ago..

I was passed the estimated due date ( by almost 2 weeks) There had been a fire in the maternity ward and they were only accepting emergency child birth cases and therefore allowing almost 2 weeks after the due date before inducing labour. I was to be induced on Tuesday 9:00am. God had other plans. On Monday evening at approximately, 7:00pm, I went into labour on my own without induction.

During the hours that followed, it was determined that the baby was head down but was coming out by face presentation instead of the ideal crown presentation. Baby was in breach position and I was told I may have to go in for ceasarean. We were relying on the specialist who insisted that the baby could be born naturally with no extra risk to the baby or myself.

At approximately, 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, our son was born by face presentation.

Among the crowd of nurses, Dr.’s and assistants, 20 people or so in the room to witness the face presentation birth, there was a paediatric cardiologist who was working on our son. I remember being concerned as I could not hear the baby crying. I repeatedly asked the nurses who were at my bedside, why isn’t he crying? They tried to reassure me that it was because of being born face first, his tongue and throat, etc, were very swollen. Still it seemed the Dr.’s and nurses were fussing over the baby so much and I was uneasy.

I recall my husband being calm and assured things would be fine, at the time I didn’t know where he got this confidence from. I remember the looks on the faces of the strangers in the room. There was not a smile among them. Again, I asked the nurses, “Why won’t they let me hold him? What is wrong?” I remember hearing one of nurses call out, “ Mom wants to hold the baby!” Even as I recall the events, it brings tears to my eyes, for at the time I had no concept of how great a miracle was unfolding before my eyes.

The nurses explained to me that he would be swollen and bruised and that he needed oxygen to assist with his breathing. I mumbled something, meant to sound like “ I understand”

They placed him in my arms, he had an oxygen mask on his face, his face was swollen and bruised. Yet I could see him trying to open his eyes. I was much more relaxed having been able to see and hold him. It was brief and then they took him away to the Neo Natal ICU.

He remained there for a week. A few days after his birth we mentioned to the nurses that we had not yet met the paediatric cardiologist who was present at his birth and we would very much like to. We had no idea, in fact, the Dr. would want to speak with us too.

It turned out the Dr. had already performed an ultrasound ( which we thought was to check the baby’s spine & neck) The ultrasound was actually to check his heart.

He told us the baby had 2 holes in his heart and 2 floppy valves. He had a Mitro Valve pro-lapse and a Tricuspid Valve pro-lapse. The latter being rare. He advised us that our son may need surgery. I was devastated, scared and dizzy. I don’t recall all the details of the remainder of the talk. Dr. drew a diagram of the baby;s heart to help us visualize what was wrong. He also assured us he was going to show the ultrasound to 9 other doctors who were on a board with him at Sick Children’s Hospital. We were relieved to know that we were not only getting a second opinion, but 9 opinions.

The next few days we learned of others who were praying for us, our parents and extended family members. On Sunday we missed Mass to be with our son at the hospital so we decided to visit Christ in the hospital chapel. This would be one of the first times Dave and I prayed together. Upon returning to ICU, Dr asked us if we’d like to take our baby home? “Of course, we would.” We could not get him home fast enough. Dr. informed us that he would be meeting with the board members at Sick Children’s Hospital in Toronto on Monday and he would call us at home to let us know the outcome.

We continued to pray and call on others prayers as well. On Monday evening, (well after office hours) Dr. called with news. The doctors at Sick Children’s Hospital were of the opinion the surgery was not necessary. This completely set our hearts and minds at ease. God had looked on us with favour, as undeserving as we were. Dr. informed us that he would continue to care for our son, seeing him regularly to ensure the holes would close on their own.

Today I look on my 10 year old boy and I know his life was truly a gift. Every life is a gift, but it was so evident that the Lord used this experience to bring us closer to him. We share this story with our son, at a pace and level he can understand, to ensure that he will always remember that he is loved. Not only by us, his earthly parents, but also by the One who chose to save him, the One who entrusted him to us.

The Eleventh Hour

Why is it that only when we are preparing to say “good-bye” we come to realize the true value of what we have?

As you see from last weeks list of “Small Successes“ I managed to organize our storage area and get rid of some items we no longer need or use. A few days later something to came to mind that I feel compelled to share.

Among the pile of items we no longer use, we found an old favorite toy of the boys that we obviously forgot we still had. This toy had been put away for a few years (that’s how long it’s been since we went through our storage space) When we dug out the toy, we were discerning whether to donate it or sell it, but as all of you Mom’s know, our boys wouldn’t hear of separating from this toy, so they are now enjoying their reunion and playing with it again.

It struck me that at times we treat our faith the same way. Especially for those of us born and raised in a Catholic family. I have witnessed a few times, among my family & friends that only when they are facing the end of their earthly lives do they come to appreciate the faith that was instilled in them as children. Somewhere along their adolescent and adult life they felt their faith life wasn’t as important, but once they deal with a serious illness, or come face to face with their mortality they realize that clinging to God and preparing for heaven is much more important than any accomplishments they may or may not have had in their earthly life.

I am not meaning to undermine or insult anyone. In fact, I am so grateful for God’s mercy, that he allows us this opportunity to be saved, even at the 11th hour of our lives. I have come to also appreciate what it means to have a good death. A good death is when we are given time to prepare, when we are given time to reconcile with God and with our family and friends.

The sad part about this reality is those poor souls who are waiting for the 11th hour, but instead face their mortality suddenly. What of those who are not given the opportunity to reconcile with God and their loved one’s prior to departing from this earth. We have to trust in God’s mercy, since he knows their hearts and the condition of their souls.

Are we waiting for the 11th hour to put things right with God and our family or friends?

In recent years I have to come to appreciate the value of a single soul. We look at the life of Christ and realize that many see his mission as a failure. The only time Christ’s mission can be seen as a failure is when a soul dies without him. Then it’s like Christ’s blood was poured out for nothing.

Through my friendship with Christ, I know that Christ’s mission was not a failure. I know the peace I have found and the difference he has made in my marriage and in my family.

If you feel compelled,this is a great time to meditate on “The Good Thief” found in Luke 23:39-43

This has been written in loving memory of my family & friends who have gone ahead of us; I pray you are interceding for us from heaven.

God Bless.

Handmade oil painting reproduction of Christ and the Good Thief, a painting by Tiziano Vecellio (Titian)