Sharing Our Dirty Laundry

Letter from Linda Gibbons...

“Though weary, love is not tired; though pressed, it is not straightened; though alarmed, it is not confounded. Love securely passes through all.” Thomas á Kempis

Greetings in the blessed name of Jesus...

I am glad you walked out your story journey. Yes, its putting out our dirty laundry but we do it so others won’t have to – their only dirty laundry will be in the diaper pail.

You know of the National Post article it was in depth (read long line of dirty laundry) the night before publication I had a few “nervous tremors” but then I said, “It’s worth it.” Too many are in let’s pretend land, we “fix it and forget it and move on” until it all comes back in spades.

When we write about our dark page others can identify with the struggle to get out of the social mess we’ve faced and our failure to take the moral high road. Our dirty laundry testimony tells them they are not alone in their situation and that abortion doesn’t fix anything and they’ll not soon forget! And moving on or getting over it is not the simple task the feminist tripe imagine. So thanks for the brave outing, may God use it to save a life and a lifetime for mother and child. Life and liberty lived in harmony.

Here is a quote from Steve Jalsevac – he’s with Campaign Life Coalition in Toronto:
“Each individual who values traditional morality and principles must take personal and courageous responsibility to act appropriately on what they know is wrong and harmful. There is no “they”. There is only you.”

Sending you a little poem I know you’ll appreciate:

His Number

While waiting as a mother-to-be,
I heard God firmly speak to me.

To cast aside the world’s device
And become a living sacrifice.

Namely, that my womb should bear
The one He planned to cradle there.

And that no humanistic creed,
Should limit my fertility.

Oh, how I wrestled with that word,
So unusual, so absurd.

Could God? Would God take control?
And what would His requirement hold?

After much debate and doubt,
I threw my own decisions out.

If God can measure earth and sea,
Can He not chart a family?

And if He names and number stars,
Then is His book is each of ours.

We therefore gave Him the right
To build the house and take the charge

A mother now with five on hand,
By faith and grace I have no plan.

But cast aside the things that kill
To let His number be fulfilled.

-Author Unknown

Peace in Christ. Love in Jesus
Linda

Christ In The Details

As I contemplate today’s gospel, John 1:45 – 51 I find myself intrigued by Nathanael’s encounter with Christ. I can only imagine what Nathanael must have felt when he met Jesus for the first time and yet Jesus seems to know him; he is struck by this and questions him, "How do you know me?"

I have learned through the years that we all have a story, especially about our personal encounter with Christ, while some of us may share a story similar to St. Paul, I am certain that for most of us, God revealed himself to us in a subtle way, just as Christ did with Nathanael.

What strikes me about this is that Jesus is in the details. He cares about every moment of our day, and he is there with us, whether we realize it or not. He cares about us enough to be aware of every moment of our lives. Jesus and Nathanael share an intimate moment, as only the two of them know what is significant about Nathanael under the fig tree. Don’t we all long to share an intimate moment like that with Christ? Isn’t it awesome to acknowledge that we can have those moments, every day?

So whether I am washing dishes, writing this post or listening to the children’s make believe stories, whenever I turn my heart and mind to my creator, He is here with me. The fact that he is such a faithful friend motivates me to be accountable for the times I give into temptation to judge or criticize those around me, at those times I know I can rely on His help as long as I am ready to co-operate with him, he’ll help me overcome the struggles I will undoubtedly face today.

Reflecting further brings more questions to mind...

Could Jesus say the same thing to me that he said to Nathanael? “There is no duplicity in her.”

Am I as faithful a friend to others, as Christ is to me? Do I pay attention to the details in the lives of those around me?

Do I respond as Nathanael did, greeting Jesus as the son of God, and King of Kings?

Picture: Saying Grace by Norman Rockwell

Favourite Devotional Prayers

I was tagged almost a week ago, by Jenna at Caring Catholic Convert to list my favorite 3 prayers and then to tag 5 other people to do the same.

Here they are:

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Holy Spirit, inspire in me
what I should think,
what I should say,
what I should leave unsaid,
what I should write,
what I should do,
and how I should act
to bring about the good of souls,
the fulfillment of my mission
and the triumph of the Kingdom of Christ.
Amen.

This provides me with a daily reminder that I can't go it alone, left to my own devices I easily say, do, think or write the wrong thing.

The Litany of Humility

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me!
From the desire of being esteemed, Lord Jesus, free me!
From the desire of being loved, ...
From the desire of being acclaimed,...
From the desire of being honoured,...
From the desire of being praised,...
From the desire of being preferred...
From the desire of being consulted...
From the desire of being approved...
From the desire of being valued,...
From the fear of being humbled, Lord Jesus, free me!
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of being dismissed...
From the fear of being rejected...
From the fear of being defamed...
From the fear of being forgotten...
From the fear of being ridiculed...
From the fear of being wronged...
From the fear of being suspected...
From resenting that my opinion is not followed...
That others will be more loved than I, Lord Jesus, make this my prayer!
That others will be esteemed more than I...
That others will increase in the opinion of the world while I diminish...
That others will be chosen while I am set aside...
That others will be praised while I am overlooked...
That others will be preferred to me in everything...

Lord Jesus, though you were God, you humbled yourself to the extreme of dying on a cross, to set an enduring example to the shame of my arrogance and vanity. Help me to learn your example and put into practice so that, by humbling myself in accordance with my lowliness here on earth, you can lift me up to rejoice in you forever in heaven. Amen.
-Cardinal Merry del Val, Secretary of State under Pope St. Pius X (!865-1930)

This one is a difficult one to say and to live, but in my struggle to attain true humility, saying this prayer itself has been humbling as many times I have recited it in tears.

Pardon Prayer

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love you.
I beg your pardon for those who do not believe,
do not adore, do not hope, and do not love you. Amen.

This is a new favourite, and actually reminds me of the importance of Our Blessed Mother's role since this prayer was taught to the Sheppard children of Fatima, to whom the Blessed Mother appeared to.

Now for the hard part...who to tag:

Dorothy at Gutsy Catholic Mom
Janelle at http://wwwjanellecc.blogspot.com/
Kate at Momopoly
Stay at Home Mom at Work
Mary Saylor at http://marysayler.blogspot.com/


The rules are as follows:
Name your three most favourite Catholic devotional prayers, and explain why they're your favorites. Then tag five bloggers - give them a link, and then go and tell them they have been tagged. Finally, tell the person who tagged you that you've completed the meme. The Liturgy and the Sacraments are off limits here. I'm more interested in people's favourite devotional prayers.

Twilight Untwisted: Breaking Dawn

Deforming Our Conscience

This was by far the most difficult book of the series for me to read. It took me less time to complete it because I couldn’t wait to be done with this series so I picked it up as often as I could. I prayed before and after I read it, because I was considering not completing this read. I know some may ask, “Why did you read it?”

As I mentioned in my first post on this series, Twilight Untwisted: A Catholic Mom’s Perspective I felt compelled to review this series and it has taken much discernment and prayer to make it through.

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