What Matters is LOVE

Only 9 more days to go here at the lsp, but still lots of adventures awaiting. I know I wrote in here just a couple of days ago, but I wanted to mention a few things I left out of my last post. And there have also been a few things that have happened since then too.

It seemed that before coming here, my prayer life was deeper...or at least I had more time to pray. What I'm coming to realize now is that God has been using that time for "prayer in action" here. That's not to say that I don't take time to pray (because I do!) and be alone with God...but rather I am not only meeting God so much alone with Him, but in the faces of those I serve here. And I will say, it hasn't been easy at times, but Jesus is certainly helping me to persevere.

I've also come to see that when I am doing the little things (things to me that seem easy and really aren't helping much), that it really is about the love that I put into it that matters. I knew this before, but when you get into a schedule of sorts and things become routine and humdrum, it's when you realize that you can always put importance and meaning into what you do, when you do it with love for God. St. Therese has been helping me in living her little way here with the lsp. :-) It's also been helpful to me to remember that little things to me, might be something much more difficult for the elderly person I am doing it for, and so to them, it's a great help.

God has been so gracious. His blessings have just been overflowing even though there are still tough times and challenges. I have been witnessing a true miracle in one of the residents here lately. This person has always had a somewhat rude and mean attitude toward staff and volunteers (including me). I have been praying for this person as have others, and this past week this resident has been transformed in demeanor. This resident told one of our staff that, as a person, wanted to start over and begin anew in treatment of others. It's a joy to see how God works.

I also had a little miracle from the Lord recently. I have a real passion for working with children (and most of my previous jobs have been working with kids). So it's been such a change (in some ways, but not so much in others) in working with the elderly. I was thinking one morning, Lord, I would just love to see or hold a baby today. Then, guess what happened later that day? I was on the metro, and on comes this woman holding a very tiny baby (not more than a few weeks old), and she sits down in front of me. The baby was so adorable, and looked at Sam and I, and was smiling. God is so good! It made my day. :-)

So, last night we had a "Ladies' Night Pajama Party" with the residents. We all got in our PJ's, put on face masks with cucumbers, watched The Wiz, had banana splits and snacks, painted nails, and had tea. :-D It was a lot of fun. Also last night was a holy hour in honor of the first Friday of the month (I found out this goes way back in the order. There was once when the Mother General prayed to God asking for His help when the order was in dire straights,  and in return she promised that the lsp would always keep an hour vigil on the night before the first Friday of each month. This continues today, all over the world in each home of the lsp). The Holy Hour was also for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which we celebrated today. The chapel was just gorgeous. (Pictures here).

All for now. :-)