FAMILY

Family are important.  Nature binds us to others and God wills that we love one another as He loves us. I've had some special time lately with my family.

My sister, Mairead is home on holiday/break from Pakistan where she is a member of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.  The Order is well established all over the World and their main work is teaching and nursing.  The work the FMM do in poor countries is to be admired and supported and prayed for a lot. They are the hidden heroes in this sad and yet wonderful world of ours.

Mairead is a down to earth person and enjoyed watching the Match on Sunday between Ireland and France. " A good game and played well by all!"

I've two sisters and I had five brothers, now four. (Martin R.I.P.) There's plenty of grandchildren and the Match was a good get-together with smashing barbecue afterwards.  Yes. family are great.

Of course, I have two families, just like Mairead.

My second family is the Servants of Love Community in Wicklow and I've lived with this special bunch of people more years than with my natural family.  They are my spiritual friends and support in developing and living my Faith as God wills I do.

So, I am doubly blessed and very grateful to my loving Father for the many ways He spoils me and continues to do so.  Thank you God.

Life and Death...

Perhaps it would be a good thing to ponder on Life and Death and an awareness of how fast time passes, almost too fast...
I'm one of those people who make New Year Resolutions and keep a Journal...  Why?
Could it be that I like to be in control of my life and able to delegate time to different interests and dreams and believe I can make them happen?  Perhaps...
With good intentions and firm application it's possible to fulfil a certain amount of aspirations and even have dreams come through...  and yet..?
When faced with major challenges in life, I begin to realise how off-centre I can be and things that seem to be important just fade away...

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I try to establish a relationship with saintly people, alive or dead, because through the stories of their lives I can learn to focus on what is most important in life, the ability to love.
Time is precious.  Think less.  Love more!

SUMMER TIME...

The month of June is full of sunshine and such a wonderful effect the sunny, summer days have on all of us. Only the flowers and gardens are praying for rain, yet we know it will come too.

This is the joy and wonder of Ireland, how the seasons are mixed together.

Perhaps it helps us to be more open and able to change, because life does challenge us at time to be different and able to apply ourselves to new happenings.

For me, the seasons help me to appreciate the wonder and abundance of God's creation.

There is no limit to God's Love.