“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”

-Jesus

 

Jesus’ words in this week’s Gospel echoed the words Jesus had been whispering in my heart this summer.

Other ways I’ve heard Him put it:

Slow down.

Be more still.

Be present.

Stop rushing.

It’s okay to sit and just be.

Stop.  Take a breath.  Take another.  Love in the moment.

How did I hear Jesus say these things?

Well, He got my attention this summer with a high fever, a trip to the ER for dehydration, some migraine headaches and an upper respiratory infection.

The sickness started by total exhaustion, a high fever and then an episode where I was certain I was going to pass out because of pain, queesiness, blurred vision and I don’t know what else.  I never felt anything like that.  I ran from the shower to my bed moaning and crying to my husband for help.  I just wanted to take a shower before I went to the doctor since the fever had me sweating so much. But apparently standing in the shower was to much to ask of my body. It felt like it revolted against me.

I felt so bad that I probably scared our six year old son.  But I was scared.  What was going on?  What was causing me to be so sick?

In the back of my mind I kept thinking . . .

You’ve burnt the candle at both ends for to long.  You’re not built like other moms.  You need more sleep.  Your lack of rest has led to this.

Then we arrive at the doctor’s office.

Tears started to come out of my eyes when the physician suggested I go to the ER.  My pride and fear were mixed in my emotions.  Since she said, “I suggest you go to the ER . . .” I considered not going . . . I mean, it was only a suggestion.

Thankfully my husband was there and he convinced me this was a strong suggestion.  The doctor reaffirmed that fact.

After two bags of fluids were given to me through an IV, I went home to lay in bed and battle a fever and a weird headache for 5 more days.  Thankfully between my husband, saintly neighbor, mom and sisters, there was only one day I had to be that sick while on mom duty.  My six year old got to watch all the tv he wanted and the two one-year-olds; they got to watch a lot of tv as well.  Survival mode was in full effect.

By the time my fever started to fade, an upper respitory issue surfaced.  I helped my headache by allowing myself to have a cup of coffee – since I was used to 3 a day and hadn’t had one cup in a week.  In fact, I think I ate 3 meals in those first 5 days.

I became very aware that I needed to take better care of myself.

Less coffee, more water.

Eat a real lunch.

Less sugar and cookies; more healthy foods.

Get more rest.

Since my lungs reminded me I should stop sleeping every day, I listened.  I sat up and allowed myself to be down stairs on the couch and not attempt to clean anything.  (By the way, my house always looks like there was a struggle and a tornado – so don’t get the impression that my house is ever ready for guests.  It’s a mystery to me how I feel like all I do is pick up and clean all day – because it NEVER looks like that’s what I do – ever).

I think it was the day I sat on my couch that the book arrived.  The book I wanted to read and possibly the book God knew I needed to read while He had my attention.

One Beautiful Dream by Jennifer Fulwiler

Since it was very clear to me that I was damaging my health by doing way to much and not taking better care of myself, I naturally was wondering:

Well what am I doing that I need to do less of – or stop all together?    

Enter One Beautiful Dream by Jennifer Fulwiler; and a huge deep sigh of relief by me.

This book is one woman’s testimony about how it’s still okay to write even when you have small children that need you.
I was so grateful to get this message.  Writing is a talent that God has given me that allows me to serve Him.

Perhaps when I go to write, it is when I “go to a deserted place and rest for a while”.

I so needed that reassurance.  I also needed the advice Fulwiler was given by a wise priest . . .

Think less like an individual and more like a part of something bigger.  A member of your family; one instrument in an orchestra; Just one member of the Body of Christ.

The truth is, I rarely ever read a whole book and I certainly haven’t read one since the twins were born.

I needed to read this book.  I needed to have this testimony to help me look at what God was trying to tell me with the right perspective.

Then came today’s Gospel and Homily.

The Gospel again reminded me of the necessity of rest.

The Homily was given by a missionary.  He talked about how beautiful the cooperation of two dioceses allows his mission to be a true light to a large number of people.

He talked about being a missionary in his country.

He described it as demanding and exhausting and challenging for all who accept the job. The role of a priest in this mission is the role of a father figure, a transportation provider, a police officer . . . any need a community could possibly have was often put on the priest in this area.  Not only were people calling him for spiritual needs, they would also call him if they needed a ride to the hospital!

I immediately thought of my children and how they are my mission.  They look to me for all of their needs and it is my mission to provide them.

And, it can be exhausting.

And then I think of the Gospel again.  The apostles had been doing mission work and came back to Jesus to tell Him all about it.  And what did He say?

“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”

There is was again – the Lord Himself tells us to get away and rest a while.

But I also recall the priest who gave the homily started and finished with the same message – how beautiful cooperation is and how it truly makes a difference.

Then I thought of Father George’s advice to Jennifer Fulwiler . .. and all of us.

Think less like an individual.

It’s okay that I can’t do it all on my own.  It’s okay to accept help.  I may serve the Lord with my writing while my neighbor serves the Lord spending time with my children.

I’m still trying to figure how to put what I learned into my every day life.

I think one way is to focus on the little things.

For example, towards the end of my sickness, there were times I could barely talk.  I would lose my breath with even the shortest sentence.

Perhaps I should truly choose rest over talking more often on a normal day.

Do I really need to give my opinion about everything?  Won’t my children learn more by my example rather than my words?  Just because I don’t agree with my husband, does that mean I must tell him?

Perhaps I should, “give it a rest” and not say every thought that comes to mind.

Rest may not look like a hammock on a beach for me . . . but perhaps taking a deep breath instead of giving my two cents will help our family and my own health in the long run.

I also can’t stop thinking of how my husband and I can start thinking less like individuals and more like a part of something bigger.  How our roles in our family and our world could be looked at differently and bring us closer to being who God wants us to be.

Do you need to embrace rest?

Let’s pray together.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for being our Good Shepherd.  Thank you for inviting us to leave our work and rest for a while.  Thank you for inviting us to be still and listen to your voice.

Hearing these loving words of yours brings comfort and hope.

Please help us to refresh ourselves in the way You know is best for us.

Give us the knowledge and awareness of

when to rest,

how to rest

and where to rest.

Restore our energy in those moments and give us the grace we need to return to our mission with joy, excitement, energy and love.

Thank you for all who make it possible for us to rest.

Help us to serve You in a way that makes others want to serve You too.

We love You and believe in You,

Amen.

So God put me in time-out.  I knew I needed to embrace more times of prayer and silence; but I made excuses and didn’t “have the time”.  When I was sick, I had lots of time to listen.  I heard that I need to incorporate rest into what I write on my list each day, week and month.  I need to take better care of myself.  I need to use my talents but in a way that serves both God and my family.  I need to work on thinking less like an individual and include my family more in what I love to do as well as what needs to be done.  I need to be more aware of where I put my energy and focus more on love and simply, just being. I know I, like a sheep, am not the quickest learner.  I will need to take more time out to listen to God and others, because change isn’t easy.

Simple steps and deep breaths… and it is okay to rest.

In fact, rest is a necessity.

How do you incorporate rest into your day and week?  Please share, because I could use some tips . . . and I’m thinking I might not be the only one . . .

Confession: I tried the ThredUP goodie box – here’s my link for a coupon!ThredUp goodie box!

The post God Put Me In Time-Out: What I Learned When I Finally Listened to Him appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

She then listed the 5,000 things she had to do on a daily basis.  After that she said some sweet things and stated that she had to run to “bathe the dogs”.  Not one dog – plural dogs.  She had to go bathe more than one dog and that did not make it on her first list of things that made her feel overwhelmed.

Part of me thinks she may have written to the wrong person.

Maybe she thinks I am that cute organization blogger.  Maybe she just needs about two more days of knowing me before she realizes how unqualified I am to write a post about finding time for anything.

Or maybe . . . God just wants her to stop being so hard on herself.

God has a huge sense of humor, so it is quite possible that He thought – “Oh honey, you are not a mess . . . I’ll show you a MESS! . . .”

And here I am  Always here to provide a good laugh.  Like that time I was at a bar/restaurant and thought I was walking over to my friends but I was actually walking into a glass wall.

Since I know I am bad at time management, and organization in general, I can share advice that other people have given me.

1. Pray the Rosary – I did not say – nor has Our Lady said – “pray the Rosary well”.  I read a quote in the past year that said something like, “A distracted Rosary is better than no Rosary”.  I can’t find who said it (because I am disorganized), but I know that was the gist of it.  So, I took out the two year old and the three year old and let them play while I prayed the Rosary.  I knew I would have to stop to break up an argument, remind them they can’t run down the street, answer three hundred questions, and “watch this” fifty five times.  But, I read that quote and thought, “any Rosary is better than no Rosary”! ** Check out “Gracious Words” on Christian Bling’s Website; it is a gorgeous bracelet that is also a complete Rosary.  I LOVE it.  It would be a great reminder to pray the Rosary everyday!
2. Go to Adoration – Before I became a parent, I went to adoration on a regular basis.  I usually stayed and prayed for an hour.  After our son was born, I found that I just couldn’t do it.  I was under the impression that I had to go for at least an hour.  But, then I had the pleasure of meeting Crystalina Evert at the Wine, Wisdom and What Now? Conference in Philadelphia. (Imagine that, I went to a conference with the name wine in the title).  Anyway . . . I got talking to Crystalina, who had her youngest baby with her.  Somehow we were talking about adoration and I must have said I can’t find the hour.  Crystalina said, “It doesn’t have to be an hour! It can be 10 minutes!”  I thought – 1. She totally gets it and 2. Oh.  Yeah.  1o minutes is better than not going at all!  Then I probably said, “duh”.  Why did I need someone else to tell me this?
3. Prayer does not have to be formal – I recently went to confession and my priest told me to be careful about how much I judge myself.  He said, “people ask me how I pray – I say I read Reader’s Digest”.  He was reminding me that prayer can be in many forms.  One time I was walking up the stairs with a load of laundry and had a thought – the thought was, “how can my prayers for women considering an abortion matter.  I know I don’t love them as much as God loves them.”  I thought it was just a thought – but God answered me in a BIG way.  God knows our hearts.  He is listening.  He is with us when we are matching socks, writing lesson plans, paying our mortgage and wiping snot.  It may not sound like the Gregorian Chant to us . . . but to Our Lord, who loves us more than we can ever imagine, it’s music to his ears.
4. Remember to “bloom where you are planted: Mother Teresa said, “It is easy to love the people far away,” . .. “It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start.”
5. Stop being so hard on yourself! – Okay, so this one is from me.  Trust me, you are doing a good job.  Yes you, you – if you are reading this – you are doing a great job!  You are so wonderful!!! God LOVES you!  I have to tell you what Father Shelly said (an awesome priest that has since retired) at every Mass, “Ladies and gentlemen, my parents loved me sooo much.  But their LOVE DOESN’T COMPARE TO THE LOVE GOD HAS FOR US!  Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, what God has ready for those who love Him!” You chose to read a post titled “When There is No Time for Prayer”.  You’re doing what you can – just keep going!

Thank you so much for reading this!!  Please feel free to leave prayer intentions and I will pray for you while I clean this horrifying office!!!

Update:  Still cleaning my office; but have to share this beautiful bracelet with you again.  I don’t earn money if it is sold – I just really love it that much!  Click her to purchase: Christian Bling – once you are on the website; search for “Gracious Words”.

The post When There is No Time for Prayer appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

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Happy All Saints Day!  I know we live in a fast paced society and we are all extremely busy! Lucky for us, prayers do not have to be lengthy to be meaningful!  There are certain words of wisdom, given to us by the saints, that really strike me.  You know, phrases or quotes that you hear and make you think ‘YES” or “THAT IS SO TRUE”!  There are a few that I have thought about this year and they have compelled me to ask the Lord for help in living such wise words.

Here are some words of wisdom and a short, quick prayer to follow:

“Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry” – Padre Pio

Dear Lord, Help me to pray without ceasing!  Help me to feel hope in my heart, and help me to not be so easily anxious. Take those worrisome thoughts from me Lord, and replace them with joyful, hopeful ones!  Amen!

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire” – St. Catherine of Siena

Dear Lord, Help me to set the world on fire!

“The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness sends us day after day.” – Saint Gianna Molla

Dear Lord, Thank you for everything you have done to bring me to this present moment. Help me to live in the present.  Help me to feel your presence, and trust you with my life and challenges.  Help me to embrace this moment and truly feel and spread happiness.  Amen.

“Don’t say: ‘that person gets on my nerves’; think: ‘that person sanctifies me” – Saint Josemaria Escrival

Dear Lord, Help. Please help.

“O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart.  Enlighten the dark corner of this neglected dwelling and scatter there thy cheerful beams.”  St. Augustine

Amen!

“When tempted, invoke your Angel. he is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel.” St. John Bosco

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving me a guardian angel!  Please help me to remember that I can invoke my angel and ask for help.  Help me to not be afraid!  Love you Lord Jesus!  Amen

“I’m always so happy with him, he makes my life very pleasant.  What a holy man my husband is.  I wish the same for all women; that’s my wish for them for the New Year.” Saint Zelie Martin, telling her brother how much she loves her husband in a letter dated January 1, 1863.

Saint Zelie!  Please pray for my marriage!  Pray that I love my husband and always feel happy with him! Pray that we laugh together often! Saint Louis Martin, please pray for my husband and I to be happier every day!  Amen

“We ought to speak, shout out against injustices, with confidence and without fear.  We proclaim the principles of the Church, the reign of love, without forgetting that it is also a reign of justice.” Blessed Miguel Pro

Blessed Miguel, please pray that I be confident and not fearful!  Ask the Lord to help me to know when to shout out! Blessed Miguel, please pray to the Holy Spirit to give me all the right words! Amen.

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything
whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.”  Saint Francis De Sales

Dear Lord, so often I lose my inner peace.  So often I am in a hurry and hurrying others.  Please help me to slow down and have a much more quiet spirit.  Please help me to maintain an inner peace, even when I feel hurt or provoked.  Actually, especially when I am hurt or provoked, help me to feel inner peace and remain calm.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank you for reading this . . . o wait . . .

“Pray for me . . . don’t forget” Pope Francis

God Bless Pope Francis!  Please Lord Jesus, keep him faithful, joyful and allow him to be an instrument of Your peace to the world.  Give Pope Francis great health, and surround him with people who keep him holy and make him laugh! Please answer his personal prayers and guide him with Your truth and love!  Amen!

I almost forgot to pray for Pope Francis!  Love him!

Remember!  “Prayer is the best armor we have, it is the key which opens the heart of God.”  Saint Padre Pio

Do you have a favorite saint quote?  What saint inspires you?  What saint challenges you?  What saint comforts you?  Please share!

If you would like more short prayers – plus a free printable – check out 11 Quick, but Powerful, Prayers

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