Mass Prep Sunday October 28th 2018

Sunday October 28^th, 2018  30^th Sunday Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

Marco…Polo

The tie in between today’s readings: There’s always hope with God.

Psalm 126:1-6, Jeremiah 31:7-9, Hebrews 5:1-6, Mark 10:46-52Mark 10:46-52

     Today’s gospel gives us an insight into a man. His name is Bartimaeus. They call him Blind Bartimaeus so that nobody confuses him with regular Bartimaeus, the productive person in their town. Every morning, he would feel his way along the buildings in town until he reached his spot and sat down with the other beggars along the Jericho road. Maybe someone would have pity on him today and throw him a shekel. Maybe someone could help him get to the market and not rob him so that he could buy some bread and eat tonight. That would be grand. There have been so many hungry nights…too many.  Sitting in the dark, he can hear hush tones around him saying how useless he is. Helpless. Worthless. Pathetic. He has prayed many times that God would put him out of his misery. Each morning he debates whether today he should sit down with the others or… just keep going down the Jericho road out into the desert to die. “But not today,” he argues with himself, “maybe hold on for one more day.” When you’re a blind guy begging on the side of a busy street, you hear a lot of gossip, the same old griping about Roman taxes, and every once in a while, something new. This man named Jesus, who can heal the sick and raise the dead. “I wonder,” he thought many times, “What if Jesus came here?”  That became his thread of hope.

     Today was like any other, no one had given him anything, so far. He swiped away the insects and despaired when he thought of another …then the background drone of the crowd grew louder. What was that? G? Gees. Jesus! An adrenaline bolt shot through him. This is it!

      Blind Bartimaeus shouted out of his darkness into the Judean afternoon, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

      The crowd shouted him down, “Shut up!”

     “Shut up?” he thought, “Why would they want to shut me up? Jesus is coming. He can heal me. He must heal me! If not, I’ve got nothing left but death in the desert!”

     He cried out again. The crowd rebuked him even louder. It was becoming a desperate game of Marco-Polo. He could feel the intensity of the throng growing around him. Jesus was getting closer! His last chance:

     “JESUS, SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME!”… (Marco!).

     “Who called to Me?”… (Polo!). The crowd quieted. “Bring him to Me.” 

     Feeling ashamed, the crowd encouraged Bartimaeus to come to Jesus.

     “What shall I do for you?” He asked.

     “Rabboni, that I may see.” Bartimaeus replied.

     “Go. Your faith has made you well.” Jesus said and it was so. The crowd was amazed and gave glory to God.

     Once Blind Bartimaeus followed Jesus out of town shouting praises to God on the Jericho road. It was a different road now.

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     They say that in life a man cannot last a minute without hope. That is why God always offers it. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, is our Old Testament reading today. He proclaimed to wicked Judah that there was hope to escape the coming destruction from God if they repented.  They refused.  God’s judgment came by Nebuchadnezzar and exile in Babylon.  Yet, even now, in our passage God promises to restore Israel after their time of punishment.  We can take this principle to heart. Our disobedience has consequences. We will reap what we sow. Sin leaves scars.  But, God promises a way of renewal and reconciliation back to Him, if you want it. You are never beyond hope with the Almighty.

     The title of Psalm 126 should be “Pinch Me I Must Be Dreaming” as it picks up on the return of the exiles back to Jerusalem. Now, in their exhilaration, the great task of rebuilding lies ahead of them. There is a new hope that with God’s help, their efforts in faith will be rewarded. I get this from verses 5 and 6, which are used in the hymn, Bringing in the Sheaves. God has things for us to do. It is our adventure with Him in this life. Faith calls us to action. Hope anticipates the outcome. We shall indeed rejoice.

     We hope in God. He meets us where we are. He gives: hope in struggling, hope in trials, hope in repentance and, hope in the future. In all of it, God is there to help us through. As it says in our reading in Hebrews today, we have a great high priest in the Lord Jesus Christ who is infinitely acquainted with our circumstances. No matter what situation you find yourself in, He promised never to leave you or forsake you. The Good Shepherd is seeking the despairing, the desolate, and the hopeless. If that’s you then…Marco!…Polo!

Eulogy for Sara Cocco

Eulogy for Sara Cocco

October 26, 2016

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

     My mother had a difficult childhood that she only spoke about on rare occasions, but God had a plan.  He brought a teenager over from Italy who had nothing.  They fell in love, got married, and struggled to raise a family.  My father would always be trying to better our situation, which at times required mom to sign papers, putting the little we had up as collateral.  She always did this with complete trust in him.   God blessed this and things finally began to turn around for us about the time I was entering High School.  Dad always credited his success to Mom’s support.

     This new chapter in their lives allowed Mom’s generosity to emerge: from the presents that she would distribute to us from their many travels, to birthdays, Christmas, and even Halloween.  She loved Halloween.  It was required that the grandchildren be brought to the house for tricks and treats and that the family picture be taken in costume for next year’s calendar.  Mom had an “open bowl” policy when it came to candy so everyone who came to the door could pick out whatever and almost as much as they wanted.  This meant that she would have to buy a pretty good amount of candy...much more than my father thought reasonable.  So she would kind of squirrel away bags around the house and they would magically appear Halloween night.  A few weeks ago, Mom used my Father’s trip to New York as her opportunity to buy a hoard of chocolate for this year.  She left strict orders that Dad was not to know. So, in her memory my sisters, Linda and Lisa set up some of the candy in front of the church as Mom’s last trick or treat and as a tribute to her we ask that you take some on the way out.

     Mom loved the many places that they travelled to all over the world, but her real home away from home was only a few miles away.  It was Strawbridge’s.  Mom loved to shop the clearance racks and after season sales.  I remember about the time my wife, Donna and I were married Mom started the Dickens’s Village collection of porcelain houses for all of us. Beautiful pieces, we’d put them up around the house at Christmas…absolutely gorgeous.  Every year after Christmas, she bought out all the pieces she could at a discount, then we would get a phone call:

“Hello…it’s me…your mother…Listen. I just got back from Strawbridge’s and I got each of you kids the City Hall and the Victoria Station for the Dickens’s Village.  Now, they only had 3 wig shops left so I got you an apothecary because you’re a Pharmacist, but because it was cheaper than the wig shops, I bought you some extra townspeople, so you’re actually making out a little better on the deal.  When can you come over and get them?”  

After a while, the Dickens’s Village series ended and she wanted to start us on another collection, but by this time each of us had an attic full of Dickens. We told her it was enough.

     But that was all right because the grandchildren were here!  She especially liked buying for the girls. 

“Hello…it’s me…your mother…Listen, I just got back from Strawbridge’s and I bought Victoria some summer clothes.  They’re size 6s…don’t worry, she’ll grow into them. When can you come over to pick them up?”

Everyone at Strawbridge’s loved Mom. One lady who worked there would come into the Pharmacy and tell me what a wonderful person Mom was.  It even got to the point that if nobody had seen her for a week she would come in and ask if everything was ok. “Sure,” I would say, "Mom’s away on another trip.”

     Then, the sad day came that Strawbridge’s closed. All of Mom’s friends retired or found new jobs. Mom missed Strawbridge’s, but not to worry. Only three blocks up the street… was a Macy’s!

“Hello…it’s me…your mother…listen, I just got back from Macy’s. I found this gorgeous prom dress for Victoria…90% off. I know she’s only eleven…don’t worry, she’ll grow into it. When can you come over?”

     I, too, was on Mom’s “to buy for” list ever since she learned that I liked collecting Star Trek.   Every year she had an order of Christmas ornaments for me.  A few weeks ago she called.

“Hello…it’s me…your mother…listen, I’ve got your Star Trek 50^th year ornament. When can you come over?” 

I told her I could make it Friday and we talked about our granddaughter and her great granddaughter, Ava’s Baptism coming up and how excited she was to see her.

     Then, a day later, she fell.  A series of tragic events ensued which have now brought us all here together today.  As we leave and try to live on with the hole that has been left in our lives with her passing, let us comfort each other and not forget what our faith teaches; we have a Savior and He says to us, “There is a better world that waits for us. This is not the end. I am the Resurrection and the Life. I’ve won the victory. I have overcome the world and I will wipe every tear from your eyes because Death is dead!”

      One day, I will go and meet Jesus and He’ll say to me,”I’ve sent for someone to show you around heaven.” Then, I’ll turn to see a beautiful angel with a loving smile. She’ll come closer to me, reach out her hand and say,

“Hello…It’s me…your mother.”

Mass Prep Sunday October 21st

Sunday October 21, 2018   29^th Sunday Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

Don’t Miss This!

The tie in between today’s readings: The wages of sin is death, but eternal life is in Jesus.

Psalm 33:18-22, Isaiah 53:10-11, Hebrews 4:14-16, Mark 1`0:35-45

     The wages of sin is death. The day Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit they died just as God told them, first spiritually, then physically. Before He threw them out of Paradise, the Almighty promised a showdown between Satan and Himself. God declared that Satan would bruise the heel of the woman’s seed, but Satan’s head would be crushed. From that point on, a war raged between the Devil, who was trying to hold on to his conquered kingdom, and God reaching out to redeem a fallen mankind.

     From our perspective, God should have struck Adam and Eve dead right then and there for their sin. But instead, He kills the first animals and makes clothing for them. He covered their nakedness and by this also symbolically covered their sin. The sacrificial system had begun. Don’t miss this! The purpose of a sacrifice is substitution: the acknowledgement that I deserve to die in the place of this animal.  Therefore, an intimate connection arises between me and the life that is taken to cover my sin debt to God.  As Biblical history unfolds, God expands on the application of a sacrifice. With Abel as the first example, we see the sacrifice of a lamb for a man. Then fast forward to the Passover: a lamb for a family. Next, as God sets up the Levitical priesthood, Yom Kippur applies a sacrifice for the nation. But the Bible says that the blood of bulls and goats could not really take away sin. These have all so far been ceremonial foreshadowings of the real sacrifice: Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. On Calvary’s cross at high noon, the showdown is climaxing.

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     Today’s reading in Isaiah tells us that God was pleased to crush Jesus as a sin offering. But how can something that happened two thousand years ago apply to us today? Our reading in Mark 10 can clue us in.  James and John want prime positions in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus asks them if they can drink His cup and be baptized with His baptism, referring to His baptism by fire in paying the wages of our sins on the cross. They say yes and Jesus agrees that they will. This illustrates an amalgamation between Christ and the sinner, in this case James and John. By faith, we spiritually drink His cup with Him in the garden of Gethsemane (condemned) and are baptized by fire with Him on the cross (executed).  We die as Jesus did. Satan bruised Jesus heel on the cross, but his head is crushed by Christ’s resurrection.  In Him, we also spiritually resurrect to a new life freed from sin, from the Devil’s control, and redeemed back to God. *

      Game Over! Once and for all, God accomplished on the cross what the whole history of animal sacrifices could not do: complete and eternal salvation for mankind.  When we do sin we now have a great high priest, Jesus Christ, who understands our weaknesses and beckons us to come and find grace (Heb 4:14-16). He sits at God’s right hand and pleads for our pardon by His sacrifice. The Father always listens.  So if Satan ever makes you feel guilty by tormenting you about your sinful past…just bring Jesus up and remind him about his disastrous future.

     On the surface, the sacrificial system of blood and death seems all so gruesome and gory, but if you peel back the layers you see one shining attribute echoing through it all: love. God so loved the world that He gave His Son (John 3:16). Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Here is love, not that we loved God, but He loved us and gave His life a ransom for many, and on and on (1 John 4:10). Love is why it pleased the Father to crush His Son! We can rejoice in God’s mercy and loving kindness through Jesus (Psalm 33).  So don’t be on the outside looking in. The wages of your sin needs to be paid. If not by Jesus, then it will be by you in the lake of fire forever: the second death (Revelations 20:14). Do not refuse the love of God, because there is no escape if you neglect so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3). By faith, believe in the sacrifice offered to you in Jesus and go through the judgment of God with Him. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).

·         I go into this topic in more detail in Mass Prep September 30^th and in a Sacramental Illustration of Saving Faith, both located in this blog.

Mass Prep Sunday October 14th

Sunday October 14, 2018    28^th Sunday Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

Wise Up!

The tie in between today’s readings:  God’s Wisdom is priceless

Wisdom 7:7-11, Psalm 90:12-17,Hebrews 4:12-13, Mark 10:17-30

     Knowledge is the stuff that you keep in the attic of your brain. In and of itself it will win you an Amazon gift card after round three on Quizzo night, but not much else. You need to know how to use all this “head stuff” that you have. You need wisdom. There are two kinds of wisdom. One is earthly wisdom, which comes from historical, social, and personal experiences. From these you knit a world view together in order to keep yourself on the road to happily ever after. The failing of this “best guess” approach to life: “If I only knew then what I know now.”  What we need is to get a helicopter view of what lies ahead of us. To find out where the twists and turns are. Climb the ladders and avoid the chutes. While experience is good, what we lack is the beginning to end perspective that can only come from God’s wisdom. In today’s reading in the book of Wisdom, God comes to Solomon like the genie in the lamp and offers him one wish.  Solomon says, “Your wisdom is more precious than anything I could ask for.” God is pleased. He grants Solomon wisdom for his “head stuff” and, as a consequence, he gains riches and honor.

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    Now, being wise in your life decisions and acquiring riches as you pick up a headline or two is great for this world, but that’s not the whole story. Psalm 90 acknowledges our difficult and brief lifespan. What is life’s purpose? Even God given blessings have to be tempered with an eye toward the grave. How should we look at death and the hereafter? Again, we need to seek God for this question because our perspective is limited. In Mark 10, we see a rich young ruler, perhaps struggling with these questions himself, coming to Jesus and seeking wisdom for the next life.

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” he asks.

“Obey the commandments.” Jesus replies.

“No worries, Jesus, I’ve been a good person all my life,” he asserts.

Jesus tests his statement by challenging him with the first commandment: no other gods before Me.  “Go sell everything, give it to the poor, and follow me. Your treasure will be in heaven.”

“Oh no, sorry, Jesus, I can’t do that. You see I’ve got a lot of stuff. Couldn’t I just…”

“Treasure in heaven!”

     The man grieves as he walks away. The rich young ruler not only loses his opportunity to be the 13^th apostle, but foolishly fails to see, that in the end, he has to give it all away anyhow. You can’t take it with you, after all. “How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God,” Jesus remarks.  Everyone stands around drop jaw astonished.

 

“Who, then, can be saved?” they ask.

“It’s only possible with God,” Jesus answers.

     Our reading in Hebrews, it tells us that God knows you inside and out. He is wise to you. He loves you anyway. God encourages you to respect what He says. He gives instructions in the Bible. In these instructions God also holds a mirror to your soul, shows you your sin, and gives you the solution. What must you do to be saved? With man it’s impossible. God in His wisdom has provided a savior for you: Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:22-24). Settle the question. Embrace Jesus as your Savior. You will have the peace and blessing of God on earth and in heaven.  As for life’s purpose, let me give you a hint from Proverbs 11:30: “He that wins souls is wise.”

Looking At Flu Shots: Both Sides of the Needle

     It’s September, already.  Where did the summer go? Between getting the kids ready for back to school, when you spend so much money it’s like second Christmas, and planning your “Labor Day Summer is Gone Last Hurrah Party” there is another item thrusted onto your to do list: flu shots. Unlike those other guilt ridden gotta-do’s like calling your mother or buying whatever your kid has to sell to pay for their absolutely necessary four day band trip to wherever; flu shots are the gift that keeps on giving.

     First of all, flu shots save lives, for people with pre-existing conditions like: asthma, diabetes and chronic pulmonary disorders, it’s an extra line of defense against a prolonged hospital stay or worse.  The elderly and the very young have a weaker resistance to the flu and need to be protected. Pregnant women also show up on the “flu shot priority list” and even, of all people, Native Americans and Alaska natives…go figure. Even if you’re a healthy person, getting a flu shot will help ensure that you won’t be giving the disease to others, like your parents, or your spouse and kids. This is called: herd immunity.  Hmmm…I’ll have to ask my priest if this falls under a Corporal Work of Mercy. Lastly, getting the flu sucks. When I was a young healthy buck and was going to live forever, I never got a flu shot.  I hate needles.  Then I got the flu. First, I was afraid that I was gonna die, then I was afraid I wouldn’t. It was four miserable days of sweats and chills, dizziness and nausea. No thanks! And now I get one every year.

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     Then, after you finally kick the flu and go back to work, the only good thing about that pileup on your desk is that your boss can’t see you to give you grief for being out.  You’re coworkers flash you a pseudo smile, ask how you’re feeling, and how glad they are that you’re back. All because they want to make sure you’re not planning to call out again and they’ll be shorthanded.  You are so getting stuck with planning the company picnic this year!  Speaking of business, it cost about $10 billion in hospital and doctor visits each year because of the flu. That’s probably why you’ve got this great immunization coverage in your company health plan. See, they really do care! C’mon, it’s free, or almost! Get the shot.

     And it’s oh, so easy to get one, in fact, you almost have to try to avoid getting a flu shot.  Most pharmacies and grocery stores this time of year hawk vaccinations like melons at a Persian Market. Employees button hole you in the aisles asking if you had your flu shot yet. Robo-calls and texts bombard you daily. Coupons, discount cards, and points on whatever program they’re running entice you to give up a little time and your arm for your health. Guilt ridden announcements let you know that your flu season peace of mind is only a rolled up sleeve away.

      Getting your vaccination early is not a bad idea. It takes a few weeks for your body reach full immunity from the shot, so the sooner you get one the better. You’re going to want to be covered for the holidays and after when the flu really hits. It’s a lot easier, to get it in the late summer or early fall, too, when all you have is a light shirt sleeve to roll up, rather than in the winter, when you have to take off your parka, and a sweat shirt, and a sweater, and another shirt…

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      Why all the hype? Well, of course, you know that any Health Care Professional (HCP) worth their salt really does care and wants you to get immunized.  The reason why they hassle you like a Bangkok pimp is because they have to make a quota. Even before the first shipment of vaccine arrives, each store receives their projection of shots to be given for the year. It’s ambitious and like department stores trying to capture pre-holiday Christmas sales, the push to get your totals in early comes hard and heavy. District managers, like nervous mothers, hover over each day’s results, because it’s hard to catch up if you stumble out of the gate.  In order to help reach company goals you may have a store sponsored flu clinic where you work. Take advantage of it. It will not only relieve some of the pressure off your HCP but, it is convenient, quick, and the boss will think that you’re a real team player. You can also get other vaccinations that you might need such as: Pneumonia and DPT. Why not? I mean, you’re there anyway. By the way, don’t think that you can call out the next day claiming you got the flu from the shot. The virus they use is dead. You may feel a little punky, sometimes, but suck it up and drag your sorry butt into work anyway; remember the company picnic?

     In my days of giving immunizations I submitted a few suggestions to head quarters to help increase our flu shot numbers. Although I never received a response, I believe these ideas have some merit, so I’ll throw them out there, for what it’s worth, to any HCP who may be interested. My first brainchild was; The Shot for a Shot program. This is where you make a deal with the local tavern owners and give a voucher for a free drink to any of the patrons who get a flu shot there in the bar, of course they would have to get their hand stamped; only one to a customer. This could help pickup business on a slow night: see, a Win-Win. This program could also be expanded to bowling allies for a free game or admission to a AAA baseball game to help increase traffic. They could both use the slogan:  “Strike Out the Flu”. That would save big dollars on signs and advertising.

      My best idea, by far, is to take over an empty toll booth at a bridge or turnpike: the Flu Shot Lane! We could pick up all or part of the toll for the car to pass. All they would have to do is give us their insurance card and put their bare arm out the window. We could give credit to E-Z Pass drivers and even more if the passengers get vaccinated too. Long haul truckers would find this idea really convenient and just think of all the shots you could give to senior citizens on excursion buses.

     Finally, when the flu season is over, the district is usually rewards the hardworking staff of the store with the most shots with a Pizza party! Really? Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but you think with all the money they made for the company that they could do a little better. So, I decided to dedicate a song to honor all those hard working over achievers, who push the numbers for their team. I had a few ideas: first was “Don’t Stop Injecting” sung to “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, then there was “Flu Shot Hero” sung to “Jukebox Hero” by Foreigner, but I decided on: “Flu Shot Queen” sung to “Dancing Queen” by Abba, because these contests are usually chick things, anyway. I Hope you like it!

Flu Shot Queen:  For you over achievers.

(OOOOO)

You can draw. You can stick, really for you it’s no trick.

See that girl. Watch that scene. Digging the Flu shot Queen.

The end of summer has come around,

You get a package from Fed Ex Ground.

Check it in and store it. You know what to do.  Nobody will get the flu.

Hey there! Mister now, don’t be shy.

C’mon now you don’t want to Diiie.

And you’ve got insurance.  You’ll get yours for free.  Don’t walk away from me.

And now it’s plain to see…

You’ll be the Flu Shot Queen, smart and keen, working behind the screen.

Flu Shot Queen…recognized by the CDC…oh yeah.

You can draw.  You can stick, really for you it’s no trick.

(OOOOO)

See that girl. Watch that scene.  Digging the Flu Shot Queen.

All your techniques are first rate.

You’re so good you’re getting Daaates.

Boney armed old ladies, truckers with tattoos; they’re all the same to you.

And since you saw it through…

You are the Flu Shot Queen…smart and keen working behind the screen.

Flu Shot Queen…recognized by the CDC…oh yeah.

You can draw. You can stick, really for you it’s no trick.

See that girl.  Watch that scene.  Digging the Flu Shot Queen

     So I hope that I’ve encouraged and enlightened you to get out there and get that flu shot ASAP. Go see your HCP. Roll up that sleeve and take one for yourself and humanity. Maybe they’ll even give you a fancy band-aid and a cookie. What the heck! Bring your whole family and make it a bonding thing. Why should you be the only one having fun? Then chalk it off your to-do list. Then the only thing left for you will be the car inspection, and the radon test, and back to school night, and…

Mass Prep October 7th

Sunday October 7^th, 2018   27^th Sunday Ordinary time (Cycle B)

For Better or Worse

The tie between today’s readings: Who do you love?

Genesis 2:18-24, Psalm 128: 1-6, Hebrews 2:9-11, Mark 10:2-16

     Love is the glue that holds all relationships together. God is all about relationships. In the midst of Paradise, loneliness marred the creation.  Why?  Man was made in the image of God and God is love. Adam was to love too, but there was nothing in the Garden for him to bond with. The orangutan wasn’t going to cut it; Adam needed a valentine. The Lord took a rib from Adam’s side, made a woman and gave her to him. Adam recognized her as, “Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh”, which translates into: WOW!!! They were naked and not ashamed; it was all so beautiful. Until they ate the apple and the world turned upside down. Love degraded into selfishness and when God asked them about the tree incident, Adam threw his beloved under the bus. It’s been that way ever since.

     In today’s gospel (Mark 10:2-16), Jesus takes the Pharisees to school over a divorce question. In the process, He adds a new reason to stay together: “What God has joined together, let no man separate.” It takes time for the two of you to really become one. You have to give up what you want to blend with the other. It’s not easy, but there is a God dimension to a marriage. You made your promises of love to each other, in the sight of the Lord, until death. God commits to that. He will help you as you push through the problems to reach the blessings. That is another reason why God hates divorce. It cheats you out of the rewards of a life well lived that were waiting for you if you only had the faith, the altruism, and the resolve to get there. The three of you make an unbeatable team, but you’ll never know it if you quit. I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart for thirty eight years this week. I don’t love her the same way that I did when we first got married. The love I have for her has matured though the difficulties of life and has gotten better by far. It’s worth it! Hang in there!

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     Mark 10 also shows us that children reveal a lot about ourselves. To the Apostles, they were bothersome, disruptive, needy little urchins that get in the way. This shows a selfish attitude common to all of us. Jesus rebukes them for their mind-set and saw the same children as trusting, hopeful, and unpretentious free spirits who, despite all the things they could be doing, wanted to be with Him. At any given moment in time, we can be either like the Apostles or like Jesus. Children are a mirror to our own souls. They push our buttons and what comes of it speaks to the kind of person we really are inside.  Many times, when the kids were growing up, after an encounter of sorts with them, I would ask God, “Do I treat YOU like that?” Often, I would get an answer, “As a matter of fact…” I would have to change my ways after that and every once in a while even come up with an apology to them. They have helped me get closer to God and perhaps even become a better person. Children truely are a blessing.

     Families are complicated. But in the end, it all comes down to what kind of person you want to be. Self-centered people are toxic. They like running credit card relationships: Take what you want from others up front, bolt when it gets difficult, and stick them with the emotional bill. Half of the couples split up now- a-days. I believe it is because they came together with a naive credit card mentality along with a flawed concept of love. We need to squash this trait in ourselves. Foster love. Blessings come hard. They are paid for upfront with sacrifice and an eye toward the future. But, you are not alone. The Almighty is committed to your endeavor. He will give you the grace you need to do the things you need to do. Take up your cross for love’s sake and grow more into the image of Jesus Christ, the greatest lover of all. Fear God and walk in His ways toward your happy ending (Psalm 128).