Precious moments in God’s time☀️🙏🏻

Found this beauty on the beach. Reminding me of Holy Cross🙏🏻

Back home again having spent most glorious time with family, awaiting Aria Grace’s delightful arrival. Waiting was easy for me!! Holy Mass every morning, forest strolls with Derm, early to bed, fun and laughter with my lovely Luna, calming chats with Shona. 

Holy Priest beautiful in every way. When I told him that I loved his wise homily every morning (he speaks scripture like he is living every moment) and the way he offers Holy Mass no matter how many attend (sometimes only five). Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament before Holy Mass even though sometimes just Father and myself, his reply confirmed what I truly believe in my own life: ‘I show up. I do what God asks of me. That is all’. All for Jesus.

Wonderful encounter with elderly man who owns local store and Funeral Home (Mortuary). He was so funny!! He told me that he had many ‘near death experiences’, he is blessed to be still here. One time while in hospital, nurse asked if they could move him to another ward as the window beside his bed was cracked. ‘Oh begorra I don’t mind where you move me once it is not the mortuary’, was his witty reply. 

He gave me a tour of his ‘state of the art’ Funeral Home. Dubious at first, he told me: ‘No need to be afraid. It is natural’. Never before have I witnessed anyone so utterly chuffed with a Funeral Home. Theology extraordinaire!!

Two artists two different mornings on my way to Holy Mass. Two wonderful encounters. One accepted my prayer. One did not. The one who did not pointed me along a really short-cut to Church. Every action a transaction!!

Something amazing has dawned on me!! I have definitely received the gift of detachment!! All glory to God. I can feel it in my bones. Better to like all seasons than to be eternally in love with spring!! Heard that quote many years ago and now I really know what it means. 

Had Aria Grace arrived when I got there, had she not taken her time emerging, Luna and I would not have been so relaxed and happy together while parents were in the hospital. God works everything for our good all the time. We sang a song I learned sixty five years ago and now Luna sings it all the time. My children sang it and now my children’s children.;

‘When I see the sun I sing, Thankyou God for everything. The birds, the flowers, the humming bees, the ripen fruit, the tall green trees’.

Wonderful quote from Pope Benedict’s book, ‘Last Testament’, I reread on my week of bliss;  ‘Today I will pay myself a visit. I do hope that I’m at home’. (Karl Valentin)

May we always be home in our heart, doing good, showing kindness, as we go.

‘If your heart-peace is unruffled, then every thought is a mighty force for ME. Then every act is one of power’. (Jesus/He and I)

‘Whatever happens, what does it matter? Since you are Mine, since you live in my love? Since your pathway on earth leads to everlasting life, let everything take you to it’. (Jesus to Gabrielle Bossis/He and I)

Aria Grace☀️🙏🏻

Welcome to our world Aria Grace Nolan. You are beyond welcome, beautiful baby. What joy is ours!! Thank you Holy Trinity one God from our deepest heart. 

‘No man can live without delight’ (Thomas Aquilas)

‘The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day’. (St. Gianna Molla)

Do what you do do well☀️🙏🏻

‘Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things and the God of peace will be with you’. (Philippians 4:8)

Fuel protests in progress. How can this be!! If I am doing something that hurts you how can I possibly have right on my side. Would my conscience not tell me so!

No, Mr/Mrs Protestor, you are not protesting in my name!!

Ordinary folk like me are not benefiting, in fact you are hurting us. Maybe not so much this little old grandmother in deepest Kerry but countless are struggling because of your misguided shenanigans.

Oh yea, almost forgot! God had no country! We are all God’s family. God has no favourites.

The real Irish people are many, varied, all sizes, shapes and colour. Happy days!!

When Mother Teresa was asked one time about ‘world peace’, she replied serenely; ‘ Love the folk you live with’. Not always easy to do but superb starting-point!

‘Let them turn away from evil and do good; Let them seek peace and pursue it’. (1Peter 3:11)

‘Thou dost keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because He trusts in Thee’. (Isaiah 26:3)

Total gift☀️🙏🏻

‘A joyful heart makes for a dazzling countenance’. (Proverbs 15:13)

John calls. ‘I have your Easter egg. Come and get it before there is a tragedy’. My heart skips a beat! ‘What tragedy, John’, I ask, tentatively, bearing in mind his unsteadiness right now. ‘I might eat it myself’, he replies, laughing loudly as only John does. John does pain and laughter in equal measure!

Easter Sunday, almost to his place I call John. ‘Did you eat the Easter egg John’. ‘I did. You didn’t jump fast enough’, he replies. ‘No problem John, I hope you enjoyed it’, I say. He did!!

Next morning he calls early; ‘Sorry about your Easter egg. I will get you something far better’. ‘You will not John’, I reply. ‘Our friendship is best gift of all’

Journeying with John who suffers so much is unutterably beautiful, heavenly, and totally undeserved. Pure gift! Ten years we are steadfast friends. Mostly he cannot cope with folk but somehow, by God’s glorious Grace, we remain unshaken. 

Again I quote Cardinal Robert Sarah; ‘Words spoil anything that surpasses them’.

They arrived in our town from a land far far away. When their baby was born, I gifted them a Frameo. Having photos of home and all else on display in their compact apartment would surely bring them joy and comfort. I love my Frameo. My family close at all times!! Yesterday they were so excited gifting me my new head-scarf. They ordered it from their own country. I love it so much!! My heart is full to overflowing. Sharing and caring is the only life worth living!! 

‘It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness’. (Eleanor Roosevelt).

 

Time is sacred☀️🙏🏻

Hospital staff are so nice!! All of them without exception. At least that is my experience every time. Six years ago, around now, I got to spend one whole week in hospital. Last week I got to spend one whole night in that same place.

This time, scarily high blood pressure. Receptionist, nurses, Docter, everyone doing all in their power to ease my anxiety and care for my every need. Come morning, blood tests yielding positive results, kind generous folk elated, witnessing favourable resolution. Homeward bound thank God.

Eight powerful prayers shared throughout the night. Eight wonderful encounters that would not have come to pass had my blood pressure not erupted. Jesus visiting His people.

Soon to be 70 years of glorious age and so being prescribed blood pressure meds is not at all shocking. In fact there are those who might suggest that perhaps I have gotten off light, not needing them until now.

Today, Good Friday Sacred ceremonies, I got to sing. ‘Were you there when they crucified my Lord’ as congregation queued to kiss the Holy Cross. Hauntingly beautiful melody, heard-rending lyrics.

Tonight my grand children sleep soundly in their beds. Parents relaxing for Easter in this compact, delightfully humble cottage, far away from the madding crowd. 

‘I have never known real sorrow since the day I decided to serve with all my power, my Lord and Divine Consoler’. (St. Teresa of Avila)

‘Sainthood’ is simply another word for self-forgetfulness and generosity’, uttered somebody somewhere onetime!!

Reminding me of Diarmuid’s appraisal re folk who continually whine but do nothing; ‘Someone somewhere should do something about that’!!

Claude 🐈‍⬛ keeping an eye on me!!

My powerful prayer!

Beautiful day☀️🙏🏻

‘Be sure of this: God does not want our wretchedness but He is aware of it, and indeed He makes use of our weakness to make saints of us’. (Saint Josemaria Escriva)

Three bus journeys to get here and three to return home again. Amazing encounters. Myriad prayers shared. Countless stories told. I am tired and happy this night.

How was it that I touched down in this quaint little town……How to put it in words!!

Dear lady called my phone last Saturday evening. Shocked seeing her name. She had been ill for some time, dementia too. Did not expect a call from her for sure. Up to now, no one seemed to know anything of her whereabouts. I enquired many times but always a brick wall.

‘I miss you terribly’, I blurt out to which she replies: ‘I probably miss you too but I have no idea who you are’. 

Thing is, unaided she made that call, beyond remarkable!! Lady could have called anyone at all but God chose me. I am overjoyed.

So today I took the arduous ‘many bus journeys’ to be with her in her new Care Home. What a meeting!! No, she could not quite place me but my face rings a bell. No wonder!! We have shared many moments of joy and hilarity. Sadness too but always joy saved the day, even on the darkest of days.

Divine intervention phonecall!! No doubt about that. Truly amazing. Gladly I will take that arduous journey again and again, God willing. 

Moments like these truly remind my heart that God is real! God is near!! Yes He is!!

“Keep the joy of loving God in your heart and share this joy with all you meet, especially your family. Be holy”. (St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

So many beautiful funny sad interesting encounters like;

Young guy, one whole year clean of drugs, alcohol and gambling. “You look really well”, I told him truthfully. ‘You did not hurt yourself much thank God’. ‘Mentally’, he uttered sadly. As we parted company, he gifted me a key ring with the words: ‘We don’t meet people by accident, they are meant to cross our path for a reason’. Wow!! I will gladly wear it on my backsack.

Older guy who at the moment is reading Alan Carr’s bestseller ‘How to control your drinking’. Thing is we had that same conversation over one year ago. He did not remember, “I may be still a little tipsy from last night’, he said and then laughingly added ‘“But of course you can not control your drinking, you must Stop. That’s the whole point of the book”. He is trying, he really is.

‘Heaven is full of converted sinners of all kinds and there is room for more’. (St. Joseph Cafasso)

Wear the world lightly!☀️🙏🏻

‘Free people make the world nervous’. (Fr. Dave Pivonka)

Relaxing on a street bench, resplendent with the holiness of God, sunshine beaming, as I stroll from St.Annes’s beautiful Holy Rosary. Already my heart full, having spent valuable time with my precious folk from God. Of course I pause: ‘Hello lady’. Gazing upon me so kindly, she replies: ‘ I know you. You are Bridget’.

Wow!! Will Father God say those same words to me one fine day: ‘I know you.You are Bridget’. I believe He will!! Oh happy day!!

I ask if she needs a Holy Bible. Her gentle reply: ‘Thankyou. I have one.’

‘Can you share your favourite Scripture verse’, I ask.  Smiling all the while, lady replies slowly, with the gravity her words deserve: ‘Psalm 51:10’. 

‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me’. 

‘It is all we ever need’, we both agree, in this unutterably beautiful moment in time.

‘If I live constantly in the company of Jesus, I will look like Him and do as He did’. (St. Mother Teresa)