Monday, June 16, 2014

Father's Day and Mishmash of Stuff

Yesterday was Father's Day
and this is what I put on my Facebook wall.
That's me with my fantastic dad
who never grows old!
At 88, he still sails away into the sunset,
still researches on the internet
(now he is crazy about drones),
still thinking of starting a new business
(making Murphy beds!),
loves the water,
and loves his family!
He would do anything to help us,
big or small!
Build kitchen cabinets for my new house,
provide a magnet board for
my nephew Carlo's collection,
fix a table leg for my sister,
the list goes on......

And here's my husband Luigi
with our son Josh 
who is now 19 years old.
He's always solving our small and big
problems -even if I just frown,
he asks me what's the matter!

He always makes time for Josh,
and buys Josh whatever he needs
or doesn't need!
He makes himself available
even for our idiosyncracies.
I thank God for my dad and my husband!
I see how much I am loved
by my Father in Heaven
through the love and care I receive from
my dad and husband!

Last Saturday, I gave a Mother and
Daughter Workshop for some 
sisters in our Community.
We all had a lot of fun!
I so enjoyed sharing my love
for painting and drawing faces!


 
"Therefore my heart is glad
and my soul rejoices..."
Psalm 16:9

When we see our life through God's eyes
we will be glad and rejoice!
That's why Saint Teresa de Avila,
a Spanish Carmelite nun
was aflame with the love of God
even if she lived an austere life
and was beset by sickness
as she got older.

I always have to be reminded
not to get angry, stressed
or frustrated.
This poem which was found
in St. Teresa's prayer book
is something I want to live by:

"Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing:
God never changes.
Patience obtains everything.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices."

"If I find favor with You O Lord, 
do come along in our company." 
Moses' prayer in Exodus 34:9

Some people don't want God 
to come along in their outings, 
in their work, wherever they are. 
They think God is a spoil sport, 
someOne who will say 'Don't do this, don't do that!' 
But in Moses' and Abraham's life, 
God was the One who pushed them 
to be greater men, 
to use the gifts and resources God lavished on them, 
who made them leaders. 
I think we should always want Him with us!

"When someone strikes you
on your right cheek,
turn the other one 
to him as well." Matthew 5:39

To forgive is really a selfish thing to do.
If we forgive we free our self
physically, mentally, spiritually
and psychologically.
The Mayo Clinic lists 6 benefits
of forgiveness, including
reducing stress, anxiety,
our blood pressure and depression.

Some say they can't forgive,
but if Corrie Ten Boom can 
forgive her captors in Ravensbruck
where she was incarcerated 
during the Holocaust,
I think we can follow her example!

 As Mahatma Gandhi once said,
forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.
But here is my favorite quote about it:
"To forgive is to set a prisoner free
and discover that 
the prisoner was you!"
 Lewis B. Smedes





4 comments:

  1. I love the St. Teresa's prayer. I'll copy it in my journal. I will rejoice! ~Pamela

    ReplyDelete
  2. Patsy, my sweet inspiration for the week. My friend and I were talking about Corrie Ten Boon the other day. We also chatted about being responsible for our own sin not anyone else's. Forgiving sets us free. Thank you for sharing with us at Word Art Wednesday.
    Blessings, Carole Robb Bisson

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5:31 AM

    So much great stuff in this post, Patsy. What a legacy of love from your father is now flowing to your son. And I love all the quotes you've included here. Thank you for linking at Unforced Rhythmns.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous12:09 PM

    Beautiful Father's Day tribute - how blessed you are to have an earthly father like that! Your words on forgiveness - I don't think I can ever be encouraged enough to live forgiveness - it's like a muscle that always needs to be worked out to have strength! Wishing you blessing, Patsy. Thank you for ministering wise words to my heart!

    ReplyDelete

I am so glad you dropped by! You are a blessing!
:^) Patsy