When many of us read the title of this post, we may just automatically finish with "of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit". It's one of the first things that Catholic families teach their children. I love watching parents crossing their children and little ones crossing themselves the first few times. These acts make me smile. I love seeing the little ones treasure something that has become so automatic for me.
Our parish recently did some adult education on the mass using the Word on Fire DVD series featuring Bishop Barron and then included some small and large group discussion. I had no idea I had so much to learn until I did this course. One of the topics that the Bishop talked about was the Sign of the Cross and what a powerful prayer it is. When we make the Sign of the Cross, we are claiming ourselves for Jesus. I have looked at this special and important prayer differently since then.
After that lesson, I paid more attention when signing myself, realizing what I was really doing. I thought I had come to an awareness that was as significant as it would be. But then I watched a gentleman in church sign himself and I gained a whole new appreciation. This gentleman was a daily communicant and a fixture at our parish. Always helping, always smiling. Then he suffered two major strokes on the same day. It was a serious situation and from what I understand it was touch and go for a while. It took every ounce of faith, hope, love, and strength that he and his wife had to get through those trying months. The rehab continues and his improvement is totally amazing. But what made me stop in my tracks was the beginning of his first mass back, I looked on as he used every bit of focus and determination he had in him to make a sign of the cross. The importance that he placed on praying this prayer with the rest of the congregation humbled me. In his example, I really learned what it meant to truly appreciate this simple prayer. After everything he had been through and the long road he knew was still ahead, this man was truly claiming himself and offering himself to his Lord and Savoir.
So often we are surrounded by extraordinary examples of faith and we aren't open enough to see and appreciate them. I'm thankful that I noticed this incredible act. It's an example and a lesson that I treasure. I hope it's one that I continue to ponder in my heart.
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Michaela's Miracle
The idea for this post came to me the other morning on my way to work. It was May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. I was listening to a radio segment about the apparitions in Fatima and how it was to three children that Our Lady chose to appear and share her message. The thought of Mary appearing to children led me to think of Jesus telling us we needed to have the faith of a child. And that led me to think of when my own children were young and how often we learned lessons from them. These thoughts reminded me of Michaela's Miracle and that I should share it.
My mom had a very difficult life with many, many health issues dating back to her early childhood days. Possibly because of the challenges her health created, she was a woman of incredible faith with a strong devotion and love for our Blessed Mother. Her faith and her grandchildren were two of her greatest blessings. My daughter, Michaela, was particularly close to her Granma. They talked on the phone for hours, always sat next to each other at meals, cuddled and read together, and often went to adoration together. Mom shared what she loved most with the people she loved most.
When Michaela was just 7, her dear Granma took a terrible turn for the worse. We were on vacation and got to the hotel for the night and there were 4 phone messages waiting for me. I called my dad to find out that my mom was in ICU. She wasn't in our regular local hospital, they had immediately transferred her to the regional trauma hospital. The specialists there said that there was nothing they could do and told my dad to call the family since it would probably be just a day or two.
My husband and I had the horrendous task of telling our 3, 5, and 7 year old children that they weren't going to see Mickey the next day but also that their beloved Granma was on her way to heaven. We decided that I would fly home as soon as I could get a flight and my husband would drive home with the kids. Since this was in the very early 2000's, buying plane tickets online was not something that everyone could do. Thankfully, one of my dearest friends & her husband have always been amazing with technology. In just a couple of hours I had a ticket home from the nearest airport and for a great price.
The next couple of days were a whirl wind of travel, seeing my mom who was comatose and spending time with Dad, my brothers, and sister. It was surreal. I was often on phone duty at my parents house, keeping distant family and friends updated with the situation. I remember telling a cousin that it was only a matter of time and there was virtually no hope when Michaela interrupted me. Here's the conversation that followed:
Me (impatiently): What Michaela?
Michaela: Is Granma still alive?
Me: Yes, right now she is but not for long.
Michaela: So she is alive?
Me(even more impatient): Yes.
Michaela: So if God wants her to live, then she will live, right?
Me (completely humbled): Yes, exactly Sweetie. If God wants her to live, she will live.
Michaela: So I can ask God to let her live?
Me (amazed and proud of her, a bit embarrassed by my lack of faith): Yes, Sweetie.
I shared that conversation with my dad and my husband. My dad paused and said that's how we are supposed to have faith like children. I agreed. Within days, the doctors were seeing so much progress that they reran the exact tests that told them there was no hope. There was so much improvement that they said recovery was possible. They also shared that she shouldn't have been able to recover and there was no medical reason for it. Dad just smiled and said we'll call it Michaela's Miracle.
It was a long tough journey that took many months. Mom was in and out of the hospital and rehabs multiple times. When she was finally well enough to get out of the house, her first outing was to Michaela's First Communion.
My mom had a very difficult life with many, many health issues dating back to her early childhood days. Possibly because of the challenges her health created, she was a woman of incredible faith with a strong devotion and love for our Blessed Mother. Her faith and her grandchildren were two of her greatest blessings. My daughter, Michaela, was particularly close to her Granma. They talked on the phone for hours, always sat next to each other at meals, cuddled and read together, and often went to adoration together. Mom shared what she loved most with the people she loved most.
When Michaela was just 7, her dear Granma took a terrible turn for the worse. We were on vacation and got to the hotel for the night and there were 4 phone messages waiting for me. I called my dad to find out that my mom was in ICU. She wasn't in our regular local hospital, they had immediately transferred her to the regional trauma hospital. The specialists there said that there was nothing they could do and told my dad to call the family since it would probably be just a day or two.
My husband and I had the horrendous task of telling our 3, 5, and 7 year old children that they weren't going to see Mickey the next day but also that their beloved Granma was on her way to heaven. We decided that I would fly home as soon as I could get a flight and my husband would drive home with the kids. Since this was in the very early 2000's, buying plane tickets online was not something that everyone could do. Thankfully, one of my dearest friends & her husband have always been amazing with technology. In just a couple of hours I had a ticket home from the nearest airport and for a great price.
The next couple of days were a whirl wind of travel, seeing my mom who was comatose and spending time with Dad, my brothers, and sister. It was surreal. I was often on phone duty at my parents house, keeping distant family and friends updated with the situation. I remember telling a cousin that it was only a matter of time and there was virtually no hope when Michaela interrupted me. Here's the conversation that followed:
Me (impatiently): What Michaela?
Michaela: Is Granma still alive?
Me: Yes, right now she is but not for long.
Michaela: So she is alive?
Me(even more impatient): Yes.
Michaela: So if God wants her to live, then she will live, right?
Me (completely humbled): Yes, exactly Sweetie. If God wants her to live, she will live.
Michaela: So I can ask God to let her live?
Me (amazed and proud of her, a bit embarrassed by my lack of faith): Yes, Sweetie.
I shared that conversation with my dad and my husband. My dad paused and said that's how we are supposed to have faith like children. I agreed. Within days, the doctors were seeing so much progress that they reran the exact tests that told them there was no hope. There was so much improvement that they said recovery was possible. They also shared that she shouldn't have been able to recover and there was no medical reason for it. Dad just smiled and said we'll call it Michaela's Miracle.
It was a long tough journey that took many months. Mom was in and out of the hospital and rehabs multiple times. When she was finally well enough to get out of the house, her first outing was to Michaela's First Communion.
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