My daughter went into labor on the Monday of
Holy Week. Before I could pack up and drive even one hour of the five hour
journey to the city she is living in, I received the text that her baby girl
had been born, just a short 1 ½ hours after being admitted into the hospital!
She had been considered a high risk pregnancy and we had a scare in January of
a premature delivery. Prayers ensued, and miraculously [according to the neonatal
specialists], she and baby held on 10 more weeks to deliver at week 35. The
baby was 6.6lbs - a healthy weight for her gestation. She remained in the
hospital the next 10 days to rid her jaundice and gain the weight she lost in
the first few days. She is God’s beautiful creation, just how He designed her
to be.
For me, it turned my final week of Lent upside
down. Coming into Holy Week, I was ready to give my full attention to the
special themes of each daily Mass, and then to participate in the Triduum as we
do every year. Instead, I forgot to pack my prayer book, and only attended Holy
Thursday and Easter Sunday Masses. My whole schedule was rearranged as I took
on helping my daughter learn how to nurse and care for her baby, for I was
fortunate to be able to stay with her in the hospital room. I felt uneasy during the adjustment of “not being in control” of my prayer life, exercise
routine, and meal preparation. Basically I had to put aside my expectations of
what the week should be, and just be! Once I surrendered to my Blessed
Mom and entrusted to her my prayer, my desire, and my awaiting for Easter, I was
then able to relax and concentrate on helping my daughter. It was freeing to
drop my illusions of how I believed Holy Week was to be experienced. It was
refreshing to acknowledge that God is in control and I only need to follow His
lead. Just as my new little grandbaby required our love and care, God showed me how
helpless I am and how I need the love and care of my Blessed Mom. She helps me
see the truth about myself and with her WE then can call upon the abyss of Jesus’
merciful love. She helps me see how her Son died for my sins and through this merciful act rescues me. And with this Good News I may sing this Easter Season ~ Alleluia! Alleluia!
"An “old” person – someone who relies on his own
calculations, who lists pros and cons – limits the possibility for God to act
and sets limits on His love and mercy. Constantly calculating and predicting if
one will be successful or not is a trait of old age. A child grasps for the
moon and believes that he will get it – and God wants to give you more than the
moon. He wants to give you His kingdom, but if you do not become a child, His
hands will be tied."
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