Gifts

I was praying with our prayer club after school today and before we began, I told them I had something to give them but it wasn't very much, just something small and I was sorry I couldn't do more. Before I could go on the kids didn't even bat an eye or seem disappointed, they were thankful. Then one little girl said, "The only gift we need is Jesus." And another student said, "I was thinking that same thing."   

I shared what I had brought to give them. Just a simple candy cane. They were grateful. (Again...the fact they were grateful over a piece of candy they probably already had a bunch of times over the years...nothing new, amazed me).

 

I  did have something a little more to give and so did they though.

 

I had a story, or a legend  rather about the candy cane to share with them. I read the legend aloud. As I read we learned; the white symbolized the virgin birth, the (J) shape is for Jesus and the shepherd's staff, the one thick red stripe is for the blood shed on the cross and the 3 thinner red stripes is to remind us of the scourging. We talked briefly after about some of these ideas and how sometimes we all can lose focus during Christmas on the "wrong" gifts. We then began to pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. All of the children prayed so beautifully. They gave Jesus a gift today with their prayers.

 

(Watch a video about the whole legend below or print your own).

As we were getting ready to leave the church a student came up to me and said, "You know Ms. Belz I was thinking about Christmas and how people really do focus on the wrong things, like (material) gifts instead of Jesus." I asked her what she thought we could do about that, if maybe we could share what she has learned? So as we were walking back to the school we began to form a plan. With only three days of school left before break, she is planning on creating video to teach others! Filming starts tomorrow, stay tuned!

Note to self...

"Stop worrying about 'what if' and trust 'what is'."

Our Lady of Guadalupe Pray for Us!

“Hear Me and understand well, My son the least, that nothing should frighten nor grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who am your Mother? Are you not under My protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within My fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything. Do not be afflicted by the illness of your uncle, who will not die now from it. Be assured that he is now cured.” 

Motion of Mercy

Do not be afraid, Mary...

Mary, full of grace, mother of God,

mother of the Church,

model of faithful discipleship,

 

Tell me, please:

after the angel said

"do not be afraid,"

did you stop being afraid?

Or were you trembling long after

you spoke your answer

and the angel departed from you?

 

Throughout all the fearful events that followed,

did Gabriel return from time to time

to say again, "do not be afraid,"

or were you on your own, clinging to God's promise

with only Joseph to support you as best he could?

 

I ask, Mary, because I am often afraid,

And I see such fear in the human race.

We often try to hide it,

but it comes out in many ugly ways.

 

Mary, you knew fear.

Help me-and all the people of the world-

to face our fears.

Help us remember that God has promised

to be with us too,

and that, through Jesus,

we have all found favor with God.

 

I do not expect a visit from Gabriel,

But I would be very grateful if you

would lean close to us from time to time

and whisper softly into our hearts:

"do not be afraid."

Amen

St. Louis de Montfort

www.livingwithchrist.us.

St. Ambrose Pray for Us!

At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them, because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.

Lord of Mercy,

How did you look out at the crowds that day,

and not feel overwhelmed by the needs you saw?

When I think of the troubles in my own family,

And multiply that by hidden troubles that I'm sure

are felt in every household around me,

and the households of everyone I know at work,

I gasp at the size of the mission of healing.

And all you had was a bunch of followers,

led by the twelve disciples.

And I've noticed how often in the gospels

you are frustrated by that motley group

and their failure to understand.

Lord, now I am your disciple,

No better than the Twelve, certainly,

but probably no worse.

Please help me to be a sign

of your presence to the world around me,

to feed hungers, to bring consolation

 and to be a sign of hope,

no matter how imperfect a sign I might be.

Through Isaiah, I hear God saying:

"This is the way; walk in it."

Lord, help me to do so,

this day and every day,

so that the world will know that

"the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Amen.

For a prayer for today from St. Ambrose of Milan.(www.livingwithchrist.us)

My Advent

This is my Advent

As I wait and pray

With you Mary

In joyful hope

But also alone

Keeping these things too

In my heart.