Treasure At Home

All I want and need
is here at home -
my husband and children
and Your Most Holy Presence within them,
Lord,
- it's the only thing I want
in the entire Universe

and You have given this to me.
How can I ever thank You enough
my Love, my Life, my Treasure, my Everything
xxx

A cheerful giver

Lord, make me a cheerful giver. May the Joy of the Lord be my strength! And furthermore, may I pass it on to others - I feel so incapable Lord, when others suffer how can I pass on your Joy? - through Grace and Grace alone.

Party Bag

After a little argument with Ivan, about housework - I'm downstairs fastening my children's seat belts to take them to a birthday party. Four year old Tom says "I want a party bag", I say "Tom we don't expect things, if we are given we are very happy, but it's rude to expect gifts" - and I suddenly stop - practice what you preach mummy - I should never expect anything from anyone, not even my husband - but of course when given, I receive very happily!! The things You teach us through our children Lord! Thank you.

Life is so beautiful! A thousand years would not be enough, Lord, we need eternity to take in all the beauty of life.

Warmth again..

Warmth like never before fills my whole being
Starting from my toes right up to the tip of my head
Warmth running through my veins
Warmth pumping blood from my heart.
Warmth in my mind,
Warmth in my Soul that rests so peacefully now at night.
Warmth never felt before.

Before was the Winter Chill -
I could not move, nor talk.
I could not feel myself
All life seemed drained away inside me.
My heart so icy, it could hardly pump blood
My mind shut tight to the harsh draughts inside
My Soul weeping bitterly and shivering
Stretching its Hands to its Saviour to come.

And then You came, my beloved – you came
so Fully – and so simply
A winter blizzard you changed suddenly to the warm spring sunshine
And I lay down in peace, on the warm sand, full of gratitude
Gratitude beyond words, beyond all possible actions –
Gratitude -
My Soul sleeping after spending so long awake in nightmares
My Soul sleeping at Your feet.

How Beautiful you are my Darling
You show me Your face, and let me hear Your voice
In the most simple ways of all -
Through Your Grace and Grace alone
I see Your face upon the face of my beloved family,
I hear Your voice in their voices,
Their laughter is Yours
Their gentle touch Your own.
Unworthy am I to serve my loved ones.
Unworthy am I to serve You.

Sweet as the dew in the early morn
Like a lily among the thorns.
Set me as a seal on Your Heart
Set me as a seal on Your Soul
For strong as Death is Love
More yielding than the grave
Nothing can quench its flame
Nothing can quench its flame.

A furnace

furnace [ˈfɜːnɪs] (definition) an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to generate steam, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores.

Grant me the Grace to stay here for as long as You will and never to run away.
I stay here for no other reason than my love for You, and I'm convinced that I'm here out of Your infinite Love for me.

Ouch.
Maria

"Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is a chance for mercy. Believe it firmly. Do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God. Hope and have confidence in confession."
St Isidore of Seville.