DONT FORGET TO SAY I LOVE YOU

A couple of years ago I would hear the Sister I live with say to her mom on the phone I love you too. I knew her mom had told her I love you.
 I was feeling bad as my mom and dad had already passed away and no one was saying that to me or me to them. 
God heard my inner frustration and out of the blue my brother started saying I love you. It had the same sort of feeling I was longing for. Over the years that has become very special conversation for us. We talk every night and end in the same way with our I love you. Not as a response to the other but from the depth of our hearts.
This morning before my shower I got a call my brother was in ED in the hospital at home. As I drove there I thought of all of the I love yous said and thanked God for them. I felt a peaceful feeling and felt whatever the day brought the I love you would always be in my heart. 
My brother today while in ICU said" are you going to sit there all day looking at me?" "Go home and I love you". the nurses said he was okay for me to leave. I will go back tomorrow.
The 2 hr drive coming home I had plenty of time to reflect on I love you. I thought are there more people I should be saying I love you to while I still can. 
It is never too late to begin. I really don't need a notice hanging in the bathroom somewhere to remind me it is never too late to say I love to whomever I feel I want to. How about you. Are there some I love you's you still need to say while there is still time?

REASONS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

Tonight we attended a talk by Bishop Skilba from Milwaukee on the topic of Vatican II. 

The Wausau deanery is celebrating the year of Faith of the Catholic Church by having a series of talks on variety of topics. 
Bishop Skilba traced for us some of history of Vatican II and its various document teachings and his personal experience of having been present at the council as a observer and a student priest studying in Rome at that time. 

He emphasized although the implementation has been slow what would have made things better if there would have been an explanation of the change,why the change was made and how this will now better help in furthering the awareness of the working of God in the world. He indicated the changes have only begun and we too often think of change as an instantaneous thing rather than a slow process.

These reflections have application to many things in our daily lives.  Each day we deal with change and of course it is easier to change if we see the reason for the change and how it will bring something positive as an outcome. 

So simple of principle but often forgotten. However,it is now a reminder for me to do this in my daily life as I deal with the changes I  encounter. 

LEADERSHIP

In today scripture Jesus talks about the good servant one who is honest with his Master. 

Today we think of this in our terms. The servant is the one whom someone has been asked to be in charge of something for for them. This is experienced in our day to day living  in may way such as the daycare staff, the person who helps you with your finances, your civic leader, the duties you are responsible for in your home, your workplace manager, director and the like. 

All of us have a choice of being a good servant (one who fulfills the duties assigned) or being a unfaithful servant. 

We all have people who are affected by our leadership. As the scripture states much is required of those persons which whom much is entrusted and more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

We all have been given gifts and talents to develop and use for the good of others. It all depends upon how we use our talents and gifts. Do we use them to serve ourselves or to be in service of a better world.  How do each of us carry out our responsibilities to those who are affected by our actions.

LET IT RAIN

what a rainy two days. I am sure the ground is soaking this up and we will benefit from it in the spring. 

Great day to water our own inner self, and perhaps we will see changes in spring as well.

Some say it is a great day to read a book, curl up with ones favorite blanket and take a pause in life. 

Good time to look at what we read to nourish our inner self. What we read affects us more than we think. I sometimes feel the news is depressing and then again we read of someone one doing good. 

Take look at what you read today and ask yourself how did this affect my inner self. 

In the Readings for today the young man went away sad because he had too many things to give up to be able to accept the invite of Jesus to be his disciple. 

BACK TO WORK

Back to work today, vacations are interesting. Sent the day trying to catch up but didn't yet!!
Heard someone got there office moved. I checked my door my name is still there.

One of my co-workers told me he got a promotion and a new job at another work place. I was very glad for him but I will miss him a lot. He is a very principled nice guy.

Another person got her office moved. Someone told me hospitals are always remodeling and moving stuff. 

 I heard many say welcome back, it is nice to be missed. I surely work with a great bunch of people who care about each other. 

I thank God each day for the opportunity to be in ministry and to be in ministry at Saint Clare's Hospital. May you enjoy where ever God leads you to be. 

CHANGING SEASONS

We just returned from a week trip to Bar Harbor Maine, all in all was very gorgeous drive. Sophie was a good trouper and did well in the car, probably as good as the two of us. 

We enjoyed the changing of the seasons and the beauty of God's gracious world. The heavenly painter really out did herself in the array of colors. 

I will admit that it was a long way to go but a dream of mine to see the ocean and the dessert island of Bar Harbor. We were on the furthest part of the USA without being in the ocean.

As we came home I also noted the change in the weather, cooler at night, most of our leaves are gone. Time to get out the warmer clothes, comforters and the like. Take out the frozen plants. 

Winding down time seems at times more conducive to reflection. I know my personal season is changing as well. The time of being a wisdom figure so they say. I daily pray for God's guidance. We all have wisdom to share if we are willing. 

Parents try to share wisdom with their children to keep them from learning the hard lessons they had to learn. I hear it doesn't always work. 

May we also be willing to share wisdom with friends and  co-workers in this time of change.