There have been many times that I have closed my eyes and envisioned handing my children to Jesus.  I ask him to please carry them through their days.  I pray that my children will be overcome with great clarity as our Lord remains close to them throughout their days.  

        There is an abundant amount of input that attempts to distract my children from God's Love.  Their senses are bombarded from the moment they step foot outside of our home.

         There have been many situations that I was not confident that my children embraced the gift of faith given to them at their baptism.  I have learned that these situations are crucial in their individual relationship's with Our Lord.  They must fall to understand the beauty in the truth.  

                                                      "But the righteous live forever,

and their reward is with the Lord;

the Most High takes care of them.

Therefore they will receive a glorious crown,

  and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord,

because with his right hand he will cover them.

The Lord will take his zeal as his whole armor,

and will arm all creation to repel his enemies;

he will put on righteousness as a breastplate,

and wear impartial justice as a helmet;

he will take holiness as an invincible shield,

and sharpen stern wrath for a sword, and creation 

will join with him to fight against the madmen."

Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-20

                    Over the past few days I have been reflecting on the 

        beauty and clarity found in the light. 1 John 1:5 is beautiful and affirming.     

                        There is comfort, warmth, beauty, sustenance, and healing found in the light. This scripture reading brings "Beauty in the Truth".

Faith in the Light

"Let the day be darkness! May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it"
Job 3:4

    

     In this photo my son Joseph and I are on an airplane returning from an interview retreat that he attended.  He was interviewing for a missionary organization called NET Ministries. If you have never heard of them I ask that you please CHECK THEM OUT! http://www.netusa.org  The experience was life changing for the both of us. 

     The photo of the sky in the distance is above the clouds. We were about ten minutes from the airport. It is hard to believe but just below the clouds it was dreary, sleeting, foggy and dark.

      I am confident that this gift of a moment was given to sustain Joseph and I. This image reminds us of the joy we experienced that weekend.  There is much work to be done in my relationships.  There are times that are so difficult to be the wife and mother I want to be. It is necessary at these times to remain humble. I find great hope through acknowledging that I do not see through the difficulties without the joy of the Gospel.

      Only when I surrender and accept the struggles of this life do I embrace the gift of faith.  The gift of faith brings great joy and hope into my life.  I am then able to imagine the beauty beyond the clouds.  

       

The Light always shines through the darkness

                             

"the Light shines in the darkness,

 and the darkness has not overcome it"  John 1:5

            No matter where we are in this world there are many instances where human beings have the opportunity to overcome all language and logistical separations and differences.  Human beings have common needs and desires that enable our relation to one another in our humanity.  Through the ties that bind our humanity together we must start to celebrate one another.  This will bring great joy to the world.    

            Our differences are many in our humanity and at the same time they are a tremendous gift. When did our differences become a powerful vessel that overshadows our common needs and desires?  Our differences naturally allow us to better rely on one another in our humanity.  Human beings have lost the ability to rely on one another through our common needs and desires. Instead our humanity is in a great race to nowhere.  We intentionally dismiss the bonds that connect us all to one another.  

             Our common needs and desires surpass all differences.  One example of our common humanity would be the natural desire to give and receive love.  I believe that the human race is born with the greatest natural need to be loved.  We immediately return love when our basic needs are met.  It is instinctual. 

            The next example would be the instinctual awareness of darkness and light.  There is nothing worse than realizing your new baby likes to sleep during the day and remain awake at night. All human beings immediately embark on the mission for our baby to sleep when it is dark and remain awake during the hours when there is light.  We raise our children to realize that the fear that can accompany darkness does not need to be paralyzing.  We sometimes will leave a nightlight on for reassurance.  This reassurance with light is practiced by mothers and fathers from around the globe.  

            The "dark side of the force and the good side of the force" is a famous quote from the Star Wars Trilogy.  I wonder why they did not refer the good side of the force as the "Light side of the Force?"  I am sure it is because the dark side is referring to the evil that comes on the dark side.  The good side of the force naturally implies the clarity of the Light.  

            Light does bring clarity. We turn on our lights in our homes when the darkness sets in.  We sometimes light a fire to shed light and provide warmth when electricity is unavailable.  We intentionally will use a flashlight to see specific things with clarity.  This instinctual awareness of where the darkness and light can be found is a powerful tool for unity in our humanity.

            As we seek the light in our lives I say lets look together as one.