|
|
|
Prayerful Morsels
Tidbits of Inspiration & Information
September 11, 2009 |
Morsels From the Editor
Welcome to this issue of Prayerful Morsels. Today is the anniversary of 9-11 so my Personal Pondering is about suffering and the age old question - Where was God?Also, there is a delightful essay written by a guest writer, Marie Williams, entitled Butterfly Kisses. And do not forget to check out the Gratitude Journal and submit one of your own blessings for the next issue! As for newsy stuff, I got rid of my websites and am just focusing on my blogs. I started a new blog - Simple Reflections. Be sure to go visit it. It is just a simple blog with reflections every other day or so. Here is a link to a beautiful review written about my book: Out of My Comfort Zone - The Third Floor Window. This one was written by another incest survivor and she compares it a little with her own experience and feelings. It is very well written and I feel blessed by it. Be sure and recommend Prayerful Morsels to your friends and family. They can sign up at my blog, Thoughts on Grace. Or click on the link at the bottom of this issue that says Forward to a Friend.Any comments or suggestions, be sure to write a Letter to the Editor. |
Prayerful Quote
I have come to see God's presence in even the worse situations.
- Joseph Cardinal Bernadin
| |
Personal Pondering
by Colleen Spiro
I believe in the sun even when it is not shining.
I believe in love even when I cannot feel it.
I believe in God, even when he is silent.
- Written on a wall in Cologne by a Jewish prisoner
9-11. That day is forever etched into our hearts and memories.
9-11. Makes us think of evil and pain and suffering and sadness and loss.
And we hear that age old question over and over. You know the one I mean.
Where was God?
There were some cutesy answers to that question for weeks following that day. There were pictures too, I am sure many of you saw them circulating around on the internet and in emails. They helped us deal with the pain for a time. But still that question remains, every time there is a tragedy, whether it be a personal one or a public one.
Where was God?
Cardinal Bernadin, in the quote I wrote above, chose to see God's presence in bad situations. The Jewish prisoner in the quote at the beginning of this article chose to believe in God, in spite of all the suffering during the Holocaust.
So is it a matter of choice, or a matter of faith, or both? Love, too, I would guess. And trust. And grace.
For how else do we trust in His loving presence in a horrible tragedy like 9-11 or the Holocaust or a personal one like Cardinal Bernadin's final illness or my survival as an incest victim?
I believe with all my heart that God is always with us through everything, good or bad. He promised us. (Mt 28:20 - I will be with you until the end of time). I believe that He sits in the pit with us and wipes the tears from our eyes and carries us when we need Him to. I have experienced that in my own life.
I do not believe for one minute that God causes suffering. He seems to allow it. I do not know why. I am just pondering. But I do know that God brings good out of bad, that He writes straight with crooked lines (Isaiah 42:16). He always does. We found some extraordinary heroes on 9-11 and in WWII and in Cardinal Bernadin and in Mother Teresa.
And there always seems to be an extraordinary amount of love revealed in these times of suffering. Corrie Ten Boom, who was sentenced to a concentration camp because she and her family sheltered Jews in her home, traveled the world for years preaching love and forgiveness. And she also gave us this great quote - "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still."
I guess that just about says everything.
Where was God?
Right here. With each one of us. Sitting in the pit, and loving us through it all. |
Butterfly Kisses
by Marie Williams
"Where has the time
gone?" I mumbled to myself. "Just when I think I am organized, something
unexpected pops up and that does away with my schedule." Telephone calls,
unending questions from my son, and 'honey dos' were just a few interruptions
of the morning.
I sighed as I stood at my kitchen window washing dishes and wondered what else
the day might bring. I was tired, and the day had only begun.
I watched our youngest daughter from the window while washing the dishes. She
was oblivious to a watchful eye, as she frolicked in a field of wildflowers
with butterflies flitting around her. She whirled and twirled as a ballet
dancer. Suddenly my flower child sat down, right in the middle of the field,
blond head bobbing from side to side with music, she alone could hear.
Tossing the dishtowel on the cabinet, I strolled outside to join my ballerina
in the field of colorful flowers. She held her finger to her lips to silence me
as I approached. Obliging, I eased down cross-legged before her.
Suddenly the most beautiful butterfly lit on her cheek. Eyes wide with wonder,
she couldn't keep quiet another moment. A giggle bubbled from within her,
breaking the silence. A glorious sound of robust laughter filled the air as I
joined in the celebration of life while caught up in the moment.
She boasted, "I just got a butterfly kiss." (I prefer to call it a kiss from
God.) I'm certain it was a gift from God. Leaning towards her smiling face, I
fluttered my eyelashes on her cheek. "That's it," she exclaimed, "That's just
like the butterfly!" A brief moment of ecstasy for both mother and daughter
transpired in the middle of the field, and I gleaned a treasured memory to tuck
away for future years.
God's timing was perfect. Somehow, the dishes didn't seem so important anymore,
nor the schedule and interruptions of the day.
Recently we celebrated her 31st birthday. She now has three beautiful daughters
to join in their own dances, or
exchange butterfly kisses. I hope she hasn't forgotten.
Source:
Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
Free
articles link - http://www.articlesfactory.com/
About
the Author
Marie
began her writing career after her children were grown. Although, she did write
for a few writing competitions in high school, winning one to attend Girl's
State in Oklahoma City. She wrote Christian
articles for a local newspaper for two years, and has several poems published.
She hopes to publish a gift book within the year which will contain a potpourri
collection of short stories, inspirations, and poetry. Marie's goal is to reach
the lost for Christ. |
A Gratitude Journal
"If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thank you, it will be enough." Meister Eckhart
I am grateful for the time I
had with my daughter, Colleen and her husband, Rich for 2 1/2 weeks. I am grateful knowing God was
with me all this time.
I am grateful to Colleen for
the great time we had going to Women of Faith event for 3 days.
I am grateful that I got home
safe and sound after missing my flight in Detroit. - Mum
I
am so grateful to God for keeping Jim safe during his recent surgery. - Cathy
What are you grateful for today??? Is there something that you would like to thank God for and would like to share? Write to the Editor and put in the subject line - Gratitude. | |
Want to read more of Colleen's reflections?
Go check out her blogs, Thoughts on Grace, is HERE.
Simple Reflections is HERE. And her book blog, Surviving By Grace, is HERE.
AND if you enjoy reading this ezine or find it helpful to your prayer life, please forward it to someone you think might find it interesting!! Click on link below (down below at the bottom of this newsletter) that says Forward to a friend. |
 Colleen's memoir about surviving child sexual abuse, The Third Floor Window, A True Story of Secrets, Survival and Hope, is on sale at:
| |
| Prayerful Morsels
Copyright 2009 Colleen Spiro - All Rights Reserved |
|
|
|
|
|
