Winter coming to a close harsh winds' bite sinking less deeply into bone; pavement peaking out from beneath tattered blankets; Sun deciding to stay for dinner. Blood in cold veins starts to warm and muck along like galoshes in slush; scissors in drawers ready to be opened to cut sleeves off flannel. Perch and walleye look up at square shadowed clouds moving across their icy sky leaving behind holes of luminous light; orange trucks look forward to dropping front-end weight and washing salt off their tail-ends telling war stories to the guys at the garage. Winter coming to a close the season that proves one is still tough enough to not fly away like a snowbird.
Such a wonderful blessing to be celebrating with family. It brought me Joy to be able to be together and a deep sense of gratitude in being able to host so that we have a small opportunity to pay back to Mom and Dad and all my siblings for all they have given me and done for me throughout not only this year but our over half a century together. I reserve most of my commitments to Advent and Lenten season but one particular desire entered into my mind and heart and that was to spend 2023 intentionally creating through the Power of the Word : using the Good Word to build up and avoiding the Bad Word that tears down. I have always found it insightful that Genesis starts with our first image of God as an all-powerful figure creating through the Power of the Benevolent Good Word. The pattern of seven days of pronouncing at the start of the day 'Let there be ... ' and then basking in at the end of the day 'he saw that it was good!'. God uses his word ...
https://depositphotos.com/11970662/stock-illustration-sacred-heart.html Sufferings accepted well are like the wood which serves to kindle the fire of love. To the extent that you endure faithfully and make good use of your crosses, you will see the sacred fire of love grow in your heart. *I have been reading the 'Maxims of Perfection' from Fr. Jean-Pierre Medaille - the Jesuit priest who helped the original 6 sisters form the Sisters of St. Joseph in LePuy, France. They eventually came to America and founded both Academy of Holy Angels and St. Margaret's where I have been blessed to work. Each of us goes through various trials (some large, some small) in family, relationship, work and this maxim seems to give some purpose to the sufferings we all inevitably encounter in life.
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