That Time Again

The last two days have been treatment and ultrasound for something else which came out good. Had my injection yesterday after the ultrasound which happened while the earthquake was going on. Felt that much more being on a higher floor, I had asked the techinician if it was the trains passing by she thought so but then neither of us was sure since it lasted quite awhile. There was no fear at the time because we didn't know being in a room and not really having any outside people make comments.

Anyway it has been quite the time of it. I have noticed after the chemotherapy and injection the next day, I have been getting tired and all I can do is put my trust in Jesus to keep me going strong. When I go for my chemotherapy infusion I have been using my prayer shawl to keep my spirits up and my faith present and warm as the room is very cold as well. Once the anti nausea meds I am taking are past then the next phase of nausea I don't look forward to and the different meds that will assist. One thing for sure I am glad that some people go through this without a hitch and can continue their life without a problem. I am one of the lucky ones that have some of the problems but that is par for the course with other issues.

I think that is why faith is a major part in any illness we have that helps us to have the strength to endure pain and suffering and offer it up to God to keep us from falling apart or giving up completely as some have done without faith. I will not mention the many things that can cause stress as well. That too is up to God and his awesome son Jesus and the beautiful intercesion of our Blessed Mother as well. Always need to pray to her for her constant love and protection from the forces of evil that can barrage the soul when we are sometimes down and uncertain of things that go on in life. She will provide strength when asked from the heart for it.

Joy in One's Life

I've met some nice people lately and they have brightened my life with their presence. I sat outside today on the steps and watched the breeze in the trees but this time it was different. It was a normal breeze! Not like last time when I sensed their presence and the joy in my heart knowing they were there. Just like today and the people I met, they too brought joy to my heart.

Just like watching the World Youth day brought joy seeing the happiness that these young people were having being part of something truly wonderful. Sharing their faith!! when we offer to pray for others when they are going through trials is a tremendous gift of faith. I think that brings me great joy to offer to pray for another in their time of need and also to pray when things are going well. Wishing them all the best in their life. Such as being happy for them when things go well and they prosper or go on to better things. Joy is a very tangible thing when it is based on God and His Will. Trusting in Jesus is the best part of all too.

It's not often when we can witness the joy that faith brings in peoples lives like those who were there in Madrid, Spain. Too bad it wasn't on the regular media and not just on the Catholic television stations to reach those who don't practice, but would have seen how alive our faith truly is with the young people.

Storms

Just before leaving work there was some nice rumblings of thunder. But I was not prepared to have lightning as close as it was when I was on my way to Church. As I was waiting at a red light, the lightning flashed as if it was right there and next was the boom. Talk about close, yet I wasn't afraid. That particular storm was up close and personal even the brief gust of breeze just before I entered the Church. I sat in awe of how God loves.

I didn't think too much when the days readings were read during mass, it was until later when I read it on a blog called Roman Catholic Vocations . It was the same reading as the one at mass but it struck a chord and the brief close encounter of the storm spoke loudly. I copied the reading below.

1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. Then the LORD said to him,“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire—but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

It was in a sense a remarkable moment that made the Gospel more alive in my life. Many people we deal with on a daily basis often do not see the hand of God in their lives or the treasure of His presence. People take it for granted how often he speaks to us, be it by another person or through the elements of nature as it did yesterday. But the saddest thing of all is when people regard your faith in God as a unimportant. God is far more important than they will ever realize and they will not understand this until judgement comes for them.

What I do see most of all is my own personal relationship with God and how in some of the smallest to the biggest of ways how very much he is present each and every day. I would think that he wants us all to believe in his Word most of all to believe in his love.