Beautiful Faith
There are so many stories of beautiful people in heart breaking situations.
So many people...People who need our prayers.
Lately when I get caught up in the little things the Holy Spirit has nudged me to give my smallness to God for those facing heart ache and storm.
For my day to day worries are tiny in hindsight of those I am praying and offering for.
Why blog these words? Because these stories, these lives are so beautiful. Each soul is bearing a cross and going through life with a burden, whether it be physical, mental, spiritual or emotional, but they have all kept the faith while accepting their crosses.
Our family got to talk to Sr. Jordan Rose this past weekend. She shared with us two different stories of two extraordinary men. Not because of what they've done, but because of their faith and love for God.
Sr. Jordan Rose met one of the men, JJ, at the hospital. He is facing brain cancer but has such a peace about him. He and his wife both radiated this peace. They are expecting a baby and rather than being afraid they are filled with joy for this new little life. JJ has shared and talked about euthanasia.
The other man is Stephen McDonald.
If you don't know who Stephen McDonald is, don't feel bad, neither did I. He was a New York police man, shot by a fifteen year old in July of 1986 for no reason. Though Stephen was paralyzed he forgave his shooter. When in the hospital the night of his accident Cardinal O'Connor came. Stephen and his wife were expecting. They named their son Connor after Cardinal O'Connor. Connor became a police officer like his dad. His perpetrator was sentenced to jail and died three days after getting out of jail in a motorcycle accident.
The Sisters of Life attended Stephen's funeral. The church was full of police men and women. People lined up outside the church. This man who could move nothing but his face went around traveling and speaking on forgiveness. The Mayor of New York was at the funeral and he isn't Mother Teresa, but even he had to talk about God when talking about Steven McDonald. Why? Because the two were intertwined. Stephen was so in love with God that one could talk about Stephen without talking about God.
Like these men and so many others, I want others to have to talk about God when they talk about me.
Another story of beautiful faith is the one the whole world seems to know. The one of the precious little miracle of Joy Loboda. The whole social media and Catholic church came together to pray for this little girl's healing. The expectant and unshakable faith of her parents is strong and inspiring. The joy they've kept and the joy they now hold as they hold their baby Joy, has the world in utter amazement as well as thanksgiving. This 19 month old baby girl was found floating face down in a pool without a heartbeat for 25 minutes. But by the grace of God and the power of prayer and miracle of miracles, little Joy came back to life. She is in the process of healing, already in rehab. Praise and glory be to God!
Lord, give me a joy filled faith! Faith in God when others see me that they become joy filled.
Through Jesus Christ I pray for these beautiful witnesses of faith. Amen.
So many people...People who need our prayers.
Lately when I get caught up in the little things the Holy Spirit has nudged me to give my smallness to God for those facing heart ache and storm.
For my day to day worries are tiny in hindsight of those I am praying and offering for.
Why blog these words? Because these stories, these lives are so beautiful. Each soul is bearing a cross and going through life with a burden, whether it be physical, mental, spiritual or emotional, but they have all kept the faith while accepting their crosses.
Our family got to talk to Sr. Jordan Rose this past weekend. She shared with us two different stories of two extraordinary men. Not because of what they've done, but because of their faith and love for God.
Sr. Jordan Rose met one of the men, JJ, at the hospital. He is facing brain cancer but has such a peace about him. He and his wife both radiated this peace. They are expecting a baby and rather than being afraid they are filled with joy for this new little life. JJ has shared and talked about euthanasia.
The other man is Stephen McDonald.
If you don't know who Stephen McDonald is, don't feel bad, neither did I. He was a New York police man, shot by a fifteen year old in July of 1986 for no reason. Though Stephen was paralyzed he forgave his shooter. When in the hospital the night of his accident Cardinal O'Connor came. Stephen and his wife were expecting. They named their son Connor after Cardinal O'Connor. Connor became a police officer like his dad. His perpetrator was sentenced to jail and died three days after getting out of jail in a motorcycle accident.
The Sisters of Life attended Stephen's funeral. The church was full of police men and women. People lined up outside the church. This man who could move nothing but his face went around traveling and speaking on forgiveness. The Mayor of New York was at the funeral and he isn't Mother Teresa, but even he had to talk about God when talking about Steven McDonald. Why? Because the two were intertwined. Stephen was so in love with God that one could talk about Stephen without talking about God.
Like these men and so many others, I want others to have to talk about God when they talk about me.
Another story of beautiful faith is the one the whole world seems to know. The one of the precious little miracle of Joy Loboda. The whole social media and Catholic church came together to pray for this little girl's healing. The expectant and unshakable faith of her parents is strong and inspiring. The joy they've kept and the joy they now hold as they hold their baby Joy, has the world in utter amazement as well as thanksgiving. This 19 month old baby girl was found floating face down in a pool without a heartbeat for 25 minutes. But by the grace of God and the power of prayer and miracle of miracles, little Joy came back to life. She is in the process of healing, already in rehab. Praise and glory be to God!
Lord, give me a joy filled faith! Faith in God when others see me that they become joy filled.
Through Jesus Christ I pray for these beautiful witnesses of faith. Amen.
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