A wonderful friend and Deacon whom I've nicknamed "Skipper D" because I thought she called me "Buddy" the first few times she greeted me at The Parish of Sts. Francis and Clare gave me the book, The Prayer of Jabez. The book is about asking God for blessings. As I read the book, I became somewhat disillusioned because I was struggling with finding any blessings at all, even though I know there were and are so many. But that was one of many and seemingly all too frequent "dark nights". I put the book down and didn't want to continue reading because of course the author had received all that he'd asked for from God. If he hadn't, then he wouldn't have written a book!
I hadn't been praying, and when that happens, I always question the validity of my call to the consecrated life. After all, aren't Sisters supposed to pray and as Sister Joan Chittister, OSB says, "become prayer." How could I really believe I had that call when I didn't always make the effort to pray? I decided to ask for God's blessings by saying a very simply prayer this past week. The oft said words are from the Bible and are the same words St. Francis used to bless his Brothers. I have blessed my animal companions with these very words: "God bless you and keep you!" so why not use them for me: "God bless me and keep me!"
So off I went after asking for blessings and wondering what would happen. Unfortunately I tend to be hoping for the BIG miracles: the lighting bolts, the handwriting on the wall or in the sky... something so noticeable I couldn't possibly miss it. But that didn't happen, not at all. Then, as I mentioned in my previous blog post: I am a Pharisee, a co-worker thanked God for receiving a requested day off. God had blessed my co-worker, but what about me? I didn't see much in the way of blessings. Of course, i wasn't seeing clearly, either. No, I was too wrapped in what was wrong, rather than what was right.
The last night I worked this week was a busy night especially between 11 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. and it was not so smooth. But during that time, there were two customers, Teri and Sherry, along with their friend, who made the time much more pleasant and enjoyable. They helped me laugh and when their friend Chris finally joined them that made the night even more enjoyable despite the hectic pace and struggles of getting everyone taken care of properly.
When I finally got home a little after 5 a.m., about 3 hours after I was scheduled to leave work, I thought about Teri, Sherry and Chris and how their presence made that night much easier. I realized that was a blessing! Teri and Chris often come in and always we laugh. That is a blessing! My cat companions are such a blessing! My new work shoes, which are so comfortable even after 13 hours, are a blessing! How easy it has been for me to miss the many blessings each and every day because I look for what I want to receive and haven't rather than rejoicing in what I have been given!
May God bless you and keep you!
Holy Mary, Mother of Creation,
bless us that we may experience
God
as Love in praise of all creatures,
in love of all of creation. Amen.
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org
Peace & Blessings!
Sister Pat, FMT
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