CHAPTER EIGHT: Blessings Times Three

After getting my attitude back in order I experienced something miraculous!  The first miracle was when I stopped outside work in the parking lot and prayed.  I, like many employees, often don't stop to thank God for my job.  I thanked Him for my job and asked for His grace to focus, make productive use of my time, and that His will be done in all I do for these special people I serve.  I prayed that all my co-workers will be inspired to do their best and be blessed today.  Feeling totally amazing and filled with love I walked inside.

HR called me at 11 am to report that they caught an error.  I had mistakenly not received my merit raise all the way back to September 2010.  They are closing out this fiscal year this month so they caught it.  She told me it would be the amount I needed to close another chapter in my life. 

I have been married twice.  The first time I was 18 and my husband was Catholic.  I wasn't anything at that time and we decided to just get married in a little church up north that was United Methodist.  I later joined that denomination for many years and served in ministry with them.  We divorced after 15 years and it was a very amicable parting after years of struggle and suffering.  We both paid a heavy price.  Our sons were teenagers and we lived near each other so the boys could see each other and visit and all went well.  He remarried a couple years later.

I met my second husband at a single's dance a year after my divorce.  This was all before I was Catholic so anullment and such wasn't something I considered.  When we got together I started RCIA.  During that time they told me I'd need to get my first marriage annulled.  I was checking into that when I became Catholic.  When I stomped off two years later I still had not done anything about it.  My second husband and I were married in 2005 by someone who was ordained and involved in his own ministry, not affiliated with any church.  So basically I was Catholic and did not marry in the Catholic Church.  My ex-husband and his wife attended our wedding and we all got along very well. 

Sadly just a couple of years ago my first husband died very suddenly at the age of 50 from a massive heart attack.  It was devastating to my sons and all of us who knew him.  He was a fisherman, hunter, outdoorsman, scuba diver, and a gregarious, outgoing man who truly LOVED life.  It was a loss I still feel and so does everyone else who knew and cared about him.  He was cremated and buried in the same grave as my son who had died in 1996 and they rest together.  His sons set his urn into it's resting place and I appreciated his widow allowing that.  It meant a lot to them. 

So when I returned to the church after having separated from my current husband there was nothing to prohibit my being reconciled to the faith and receiving the sacraments.  We were living apart.  He is in Flint and I am in Davison.  I wanted to go forward with a divorce and end the last of the chaos I had created when I was out of the church and God's will for my life.  I just didn't have a way to do it.  So on this date something amazing happened that let me know it's time to move on.  I received the money I needed to file the paperwork. I feel relieved but it's a mixed feeling.  It seems un-Catholic to be filing for divorce but I am just grateful that God made a way where their appeared to be no way.  God has shown me at least three times that this is His will in this difficult situation and that I need to clear away the wreckage of the past and move in a new positive direction...doing things HIS way and not my way. 

I am humbled, amazed, and appreciative of the way God works in my life and the things He does for me.

CHAPTER SEVEN-- Riding Rollercoasters

Today I've been contemplating all sorts of things.  I live with a mood disorder and I have been unable to find any medication that either doesn't make me very sick or works in any way.  I keep hoping science will catch up with me. 

In the meantime, I am very much able to see when I'm not doing well or off kilter and tend to just spend that time alone rather than risk offending or alienating anyone.  The only problem for me is that I end up being totally alone and in my moments of the darkest nights of my soul, I have no one to hold me, no one to reassure me that this too shall pass, and no one to just tell me that they love me.  It's really difficult but I try to keep moving forward trusting that God will send me what I need if I continue to trust in His grace and His love.  I know that the Blessed Mother is always there and Jesus is there and that I've experienced tremendous healing already.  I am grateful for that...more than I can put into words on this blog.  I know that this is probably my cross I have to bear but sometimes it just gets me "down".  I get tired, it's difficult to keep fighting but I know that eventually my doc will find something that will work, or...maybe not.  I am not angry, depressed or uspet, just accepting that this is the way things have to be for now.

I know all the tell tale signs when people start "figuring out" I have a mood disorder.  They suddenly look at me like they owe me money; ducking, avoiding me, rushing off, not interested in talking at all, lest they get "roped in" and they rush off.  I have experienced this a lot and, again, I know their reasons but it HURTS SO BAD when it's someone I truly care about or respect or trust.  I feel so misunderstood.  I think sometimes people think I'm "crazy" and they avoid me once their figure out I have my moderate mood swings.  I assure you I have a borderline genius IQ, I am FAR from crazy.  My intellect, in fact, helps me cope by gently guiding me when I need to go home or reach out. 

PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, and OCD are the names of my cross.  Sooner or later I go up or down and can't control the ride I'm on.  Like a carnival ride, I'm tossed around and just have to hang on and wait for the ride to be over.  I'm never psychotic or hallucinating or dangerous, just very moody.  Either manic and chattering and emailing like a wild woman or depressed and bummed out and crying.  When the stable periods come I fully enter into socializing with others and reach out.  I keep hoping that someone won't be afraid, but in this day and age when people who lose their mind and blow away a whole roomful of people I can see why people are hesitant. 

People don't want to invest, it's too painful if they can't "help" and in some ways, they can't.  They are afraid, they don't know what to say and they would rather not deal with it.  I'm with you!  I'd rather not deal with it either.  I have to ride it out but I have enough intellect to know the signs and I usually try not to burden people too much.  I set limits, asking for only a one hour time slot, or limit myself to one email on a topic.  It's working well most of the time but it's a sad life because I watch people that I could have developed a very positive relationship pull away and then I'm left with a void.  I told my one friend about it and the response warmed my heart, "I've seen you at your worst and your best.  I'm not afraid and if people could see how truly wonderful you are they would realize we all have our issues/problems/struggles and you offer a million times more than you could ever know. You ROCK!"  What an amazing thing to hear on a day when I see someone I really felt I needed just about knocking into walls to avoid me.  I went home after I saw that and cried.  I cried for how scared they must be and how much fear/annoyance/exasperation I must have instilled in them to act that way.  I truly do not mean to at all and that's the pain of it all.  I sincerely prayed for them asking God to shower them with blessings and I guess I have to make some big decisions...but not today, not when I'm on a downswing.

I can't take SSRI's which includes a whole huge family of antidepressants because they push me into a flow blown manic episode so those are off limits.  My psychiatrist tried all sorts of mood stabilizers all to no avail. They either don't work at all or they make me a zombie, even with a low dose.  I have no emotions at all.  That's unacceptable.  I want to feel, just not lousy. 

I can say coming back to God and His Church has helped so much in so many ways.  I am on a daily schedule.  I like my orderly routine with my regular church attendance and work.  I am going to bed earlier and lack of sleep really messes up my moods.   I laid off most alcohol, and that helps too.  So coming to God and surrendering my life, experiencing my dramatic healing and liberation from my addiction has had massive spiritual benefits.  It has also had psychological ones as well.   I have a sense of belonging for the most part.  I have been embraced and welcomed so heartily and I appreciate the individual gifts each one of my church family members brings to my life.  God bless every single one of them.  I just wish when I see people pulling back from me I could convince myself it is maybe just a bad mood or just them and not me.  I can laugh, believe it or not because they will often think I don't notice then crashing into walls and tripping to avoid me.  Newsflash: I notice. 

This downswing is manageable right now.  It's not severe as some but I'm in a diner that is playing sad music and it's unbelievable how much music influences my moods.  I am feeling sad all right, but it's not enough that I need to stay alone to avoid being rejected.  Maybe that's good and maybe it's not.  But I consider the feelings of others too.  I guess I got a lot of growing to do yet.  I'm not sure if my "coping" is the right thing to do.  I often feel "punished" when I have to stay home but it keeps me out of trouble and I can take a bath, watch TV, read Facebook, and relax with prayer and my Bible.  I try to be caring and nurturing not punishing but it's so lonely.  I call it my "time of exile". 

I am glad for prayer and the presence of God and the Blessed Mother...they help me get through it all.  I know you will understand when I say this, sometimes you just want some physical arms around you.  A nice warm hug. I get the feeling that some people think if they do that I will turn into  codependent crazy woman.  I watch them hug others, but I'm excluded.  I have feelings and needs too.  Oh well, help me Blessed Mother and lead me on the path to your Son.  I know He will understand and care and won't push me away.  I want to know that when I hurt someone is there for me saying, "Let me wipe those tears away and hug you. It's all going to be OK.  I care."  I wonder if I advertised that on Craig's List if I would get any takers.  LOL...don't worry I know better than THAT!  It's just hard for me to ask what I need because many people can't deliver.  And that's not their fault or mine, they just can't.  I accept that too today. 

I am very reflective.  I am not good at confronting people and asking them if they are frightened or upset with me.  It would be refreshing to open up one time and find acceptance.  All I ever see is the look of relief when I leave.  They think I don't see that expression on their faces.  Newsflash: I notice. 

For now I'm rounding another curve and plunging down another hill on the rollercoaster ride of my moods.  I'm near tears and I need to distract myself for a couple hours. 

So here I am feeling hollow again.  Another dip in the rollercoaster as it runs through a dark underground tunnel.  Thank you Jesus you promised me you would never leave me.  Please hold my hand while I'm in this dark place.  I love you Lord.  You made me this way so I will bear my cross with grace.  Just remind me always keep my eyes on you. You are my hope.  I trust in you.

CHAPTER SIX--Pondering the Word in Our Hearts

I was given a handout when I first came back to the church by Fr S on "praying the Gospel" and it has had very powerful results for me.  You select a Gospel story.  For me, I chose the story about Peter.  He had betrayed Jesus three times and Jesus had died (and rose) and he had went back to fishing.  Jesus walks along the shore and calls him back to His service.  The one who had proclaimed, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" denied he even knew Jesus three times and then he and Jesus looked at each other as Jesus was being taken away.  Jesus had predicted this, Peter knew that Jesus knew.  He wept bitterly...and now he's fishing again.  That seemed like the perfect story for me.  I had a taste of His goodness and then I basically denied Him by running after all sorts of other things and I was too ashamed to even come back to him.  I put myself in the story.  Jesus is coming to call me back to Him.  I include these meditations here so you can see the power in praying this way.  I hope you find it helpful in your own journey:

Meditations

Gospel Story Used-- Jesus appears to Peter after Peter's betrayal, Jesus' death and resurrection and calls him back to service.  He asks Peter if Peter still loves him.

1st Meditation

Me standing on a beach, it is dawn and the sun is dancing on the waves.  No one is there but me. There is a soft breeze blowing and there are big puffy clouds in the sky.  Then off in the distance I see Jesus but He's very far away. 

I focus on how I feel that He has come to call me back to Him after I have betrayed Him. 

2nd Meditation

I'm on the beach and it is dawn.  Jesus calls to me, "Come closer."  I respond that He is too far away for me to get to Him.  He says, "Just take one step toward me."  I do and instantly He is standing in front of me. 

I focus on the loving expression He has for me and how when I take just one step toward Him, He runs to me.

 

3rd Meditation

We are both on the beach but there is more distance between us and I'm very anxious.  Jesus asks me why I keep moving away from Him. I tell him that I am struggling with a sin that makes me feel unworthy to be close to Him.  He tells me to move closer and I do.  He tells me that nothing will separate me from His love.  We walk along the beach and He asks me to bring Him my broken life in whatever form I choose when I come back next time.  I agree that I will do that. 

I focus on what would be the ideal representation of my broken life.

4th Meditation

I am standing before Jesus with a broken porcelain doll that represents my life.  It is in pieces in the lid of a cardboard box.  It is cracked, broken, and looks totally shattered.  Jesus is standing in front of me with a present.  It looks like a traditional square box wrapped in purple gift wrap with a silver bow on top.  The lid can be lifted off.  He sets down His present and asks me about my doll.  He says how sorry He is that it is so broken but that He can give me a new doll. 

 

I sit on the sand with glue and begin trying to glue the pieces back together.  He asks me what I am doing and I tell Him that I just want to at least get the broken pieces into a coherent whole before I give it to Him as it's a "mess".  He tells me that He gave me the doll and He knows what it should be and it's all right...He wants me to just give it to Him the way it is and stop trying to "fix it".  I start crying as I'm working determined to glue it but the pieces just keep falling into the box lid and sticking to my fingers and making an even bigger mess than I had to begin with.  I cannot get them back together.  In the box lid I notice tape, string and other things that I have used over time to try to fix the "doll".  I tell Jesus that I am so ashamed.  I have tried so desperately to make my "doll" something He would be proud of but now it's all covered in glue and it's shattered and I can't fix it.  I am crying and Jesus sits in front of me in the sand and asks me to just give him the doll and He will give me a brand new one.  I look at Him and His eyes are filled with compassion and sadness at the pain I am in over my broken doll. 

I tell him that I appreciate that but maybe it would be best if He just fixed this one and left all the cracks in it as I will just ruin a new doll anyway.  That way when I botch it all up, it will just be this old cruddy doll and not a new one.  I tell him I do not deserve a new doll.  I did not care for this one properly.  He gently says to me, "Lorrie I made this doll.  I understand that all you have experienced has left it broken.  Only I, the one who made it, can fix it and make it new.  I WANT to give you a new doll.  Please surrender the doll to me and let me have it."  He then stands and holds out his hands waiting for me to surrender the doll.  I can see the sunlight shining behind his hair.  The wind is gently blowing and I am crying clutching the broken doll in it's box lid in my arms. "I know it's a piece of trash but it's all I have" I lament.  Jesus says to me, "Lorrie you are NOT a piece of trash.  Give your broken heart and life to me..I love you so much that I was willing to give everything for you.  I died on the cross so that you can live forever with me.  I wanted you that much.  Now you must give everything to me.  Trust me Lorrie, you must do this so you can learn that you can rely on me."  I lay the doll at His feet and sobbing I realize that it is beyond my repair.  I surrender the doll to Him. 

He waves His hands over the doll and the whole thing disappears and becomes a beautiful ball of gold light, it's as if it is now an orb of golden light that is rising into the air and Jesus removes the lid of the present He was carrying and the golden orb goes into the box.  He then puts the lid back on it.  He offers me the present/gift but I cannot receive it. 

I focus on what it means to give everything I am and ever will be to Jesus and how it feels to look at my whole life and see only a broken mess.

 

5th Meditation

Jesus and I are having a picnic on the beach and talking.  The present/gift is there and it's bright and shiny in bright purple wrapping paper with a silver bow on it.  After we eat, we stand, and the picnic vanishes.  He is then holding the box and insists I have it.  I fearfully accept the box.  He then says to me very slowly and deliberately, 

"When you are ready you may open the box."  

I ask Him what this means, is He going to tell me when I can open the box?  How will I know when I can open the box?  What if it's empty or has something awful inside?  What is in the box?  He just repeats what He said a 2nd time and smiles at me.  I tell him I do not know what to do...can He at least tell me what's in the box?  He repeats the same thing yet a 3rd time. 

I focus on my fear of not knowing when to open the box or what the box even represents.

 

6th Meditation

Jesus and I are on the beach and he says to me, "You will now know what the box represents.  My Mother has a gift for you."  I turn and she is there, the Blessed Mother and She hands me a bundle wrapped in purple cloth.  She says to me, "Because you are so devoted to me I want you to have this gift."  I receive it from her and I untie the thread and open it.  Inside is a brand new doll.  It is an exact replica of me.  I look at them both and Jesus picks up the present he had given to me.  I open it and the doll goes inside the box.  I then cautiously look inside it.  Inside the box is my rosary and a crucifix.  A symbolic representation of each of them now joining me in the box.  Jesus tells me my heart will no longer be empty for they will reside there.  Jesus then says, "Your heart is my most precious gift.  This box is your heart.  I have placed my Mother and myself in your heart forever.  I have made you a new heart.  From now on you will see everyone the way I see them.  You will see their brokenness, their pain and their suffering."  

Jesus puts the lid on the box and then standing in front of me He reaches out toward me with the box.  The box suddenly goes inside of me and I feel a sharp pain and then a feeling of compassion and love washes over me and fills me.  I feel the golden light that was the old doll pouring from me and I see it stretching out into the whole world.  Jesus says to me, "You must pour out yourself for me to all the world.  Be my light in their darkness. Love them with my heart and see them with new eyes."

I focus on what my life will be like with Jesus and the Blessed Mother residing in my newly created heart.

7th Meditation

I am on the beach with Jesus.  I tell him that today when I went to work a client came in that has always been a "pain" to me, always demanding and needing attention and draining my time.  But today I saw him, his broken heart.  He was crying and told me his wife left him, that he is feeling depressed again, and that he feels like killing himself.  He looks up at me and with tears running down his face he says, "I'm so sorry I waste so much of your time.  I feel like my life is falling apart. I should go."  In a moment where I would normally think of how busy my calendar was that day I suddenly see his heart.  It is shattered, broken, and he cannot put the pieces together again.  I walk over and put my arm around him and say, "It's going to be OK.  Don't give up.  Let's go have a cup of coffee in my office and talk.  Let's see what we need to do to start putting your life back together."  I felt total compassion for him.  As I tell this to Jesus He smiles. 

I then ask Jesus if this would work with everyone, and even the one who has abused and hurt me the most.  Suddenly the one who hurt me most is standing on the beach.  He is but a shell of what he used to be.  I see his heart, broken from his father beating and abusing him.  I see it is shattered and empty.  Suddenly I am filled with compassion and I recall my son's funeral.  He had walked up behind me as I was bent over my son's body in his casket sobbing. I thought he was someone else so I said, "I am reliving every mistake I ever made.  Why did I make so many mistakes?"  He said, "I know how you feel.  I live with the guilt and shame of what I have done every day of my life.  I can never forgive myself either."  I look up and he was crying and walked away.  In that moment I just let him walk away sobbing and they leave.  I now realize that he truly regretted what he had done.  That he admitted it was wrong.  I am the one who held all the hatred in my heart all these years.  In that moment I knelt in the sand at the feet of Jesus and forgave this man for everything he ever did. 

I was able to forgive people in my life for not being able to love me the way I needed to be loved because their hearts were broken. They weren't able to do it.  I do not excuse their wrongs but I can forgive them.  Everyone I see now I can see their heart.  It's as if I am seeing them through the eyes of Jesus. 

I focus on how different my life will now be...now that I can forgive those who betrayed me in the same way Jesus forgave me for betraying Him.  "Forgive us our  trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". Those words will never be the same...now that I love others with a new heart.

CHAPTER FIVE--Tears at the Manger

One of the things I'm discovering is that one cannot stay in a state of spiritual euphoria forever.  As much as I'd like to stay that way, my pendulum is settling into a baseline rhythm reminding me that it's the day-to-day faithfulness, moving forward, and sometimes even hum drum routine that will be the norm for me.  I haven't been "feeling" God as intensely as I had in the past week so in mass I prayed, "Lord I know we can't base things on feelings so I will always remember your promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" and then I felt a wash of joy flow through me.  It was Jesus telling me that we don't base our faith on how many spine thrilling chills we receive but on the Word of God through the Bible and the Church.  We experience Him also in the loving hugs and smiles of fellow parishioners as we gather and share our love and faith.  We can cling to His promises that He is always with us, leading us and guiding us even in those less than thrilling moments.

I am in prayer for our church's opportunity fair.  Groups are setting up tables and we can see what ministries the church has available to us and decide where we feel God is calling us to serve. I am feeling strongly led to choir but I want to meet the wonderful people who are representing all the ministries to see if God has something else for me as well. I  have to be careful. I am so grateful and so excited that I want to literally "sign up for everything" and it's vital in one's walk with the Lord to pray about where HE wants you and not overextend yourself.  I was in very bad shape and I was given a miracle but I am still healing and I need to allow time for personal devotions, prayer, meditation and relaxation.

God is teaching me balance and obedience as as I drag my feet kicking and screaming through each new and deeper level of surrender.  Obedience will always be a key part of my growth in the faith.  I just don't LISTEN...even when told by God to do something I will often rebel.  I don't understand why I fight for things I don't even want sometimes.  I will fight like crazy because I want "my rights" and we see where that has gotten us as a nation and culture.  Unborn babies are being  murdered in mass numbers and we hear "This is my body!  It's my RIGHT!" and the rights of that baby are discarded and it's life ended.  I wonder in all that if the women who cry out about the "right" to abort an innocent baby give any thought to the fact that many of these unborn are girls.  If you care about women's rights and opportunities for girls shouldn't letting them live be the first priority?  No one seems to have an answer when I ask that.   This battle cry of  "This is my body!" echoes back through time as Jesus holds up bread and says, "This is my body....GIVEN FOR YOU"  While our society is clamoring "This is my body. I will do what I want!" and embrace this culture of death, Jesus gave His body so that we can live forever with Him.  He set aside his glory and willing gave His body to be beaten, tortured, and broken for you and me.  What a beautiful world we would  live in if the battle cry of our society was "This is my body, given for YOU" as a woman contemplates what is best for her unborn child.  I think the rebellion and insistence on the personal rights of one over the other in our culture tells us a lot.  It used to be that no one could stand up for themselves because they were taught to worry about "How that will look?" Society basically used to disregard people's misery in favor of "What will the neighbors think?" Often people lived in abusive situations and swallowed their pain and pretended all was well.  Then we decided that that was wrong and we should become more self centered so sadly the pendulum has swung totally the other way,  Now you hear "Why should I do that?  What's in it for ME?" It seems to be the prevailing thought.  I would think God's will probably lies in a healthy balance between these two extremes.  We are not called to be a doormat and also not supposed to be disregarding the rights of others to the point where they don't even get to live!  I dare to challenge myself in this selfishness of "ME FIRST" (because I see it in me too) and replace that with, "I want to be poured out for you Lord Jesus." 

I pray that God take away my selfishness and help me be a balanced woman with healthy self respect that doesn't need to sacrifice someone else to get it MY WAY.  I want to love and treat myself with respect and not allow others to "use" me but I also want to give myself in humble service for the one who poured out His blood for me.  I desire only to be a holy woman of God.  I ask you to pray for me as I struggle with surrender and obedience.

I remember when I was a little girl about 4 years old.  I had these shiny black patent leather shoes that had very noisy soles on them.  I liked the shoes a lot because they were shiny and pretty and they made NOISE!  Whenever I was mad and throwing a fit I would announce out loud, "I am going to put on my shoes!"  Then I would put them on and stomp around the house as loud as I could and actually yell out, "STOMP! STOMP! STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!" as I slammed my feet into the floor angry as fire!  I yelled that phrase over and over with the noise my shoes made as I rebelled hotly until someone either yelled at me to take them off and shut my beak or I got tired and gave up.   One day my mother made me sit in a corner and I kept standing up.  She would tell me to sit.  I would stand.  She then really bawled me out and I sat down crying but turned to her and said, "I'm still standing up on the inside!"  I realized the other day that spiritually I am still doing those things.  It's my willful rebellion and it needs to be surrendered to my Lord Jesus Christ.

Sometimes I actually picture Jesus standing off to the side while I'm lying on the floor kicking and screaming like a 2 year old wearing those shiny black shoes.  He patiently says to me, "OK Rosary Girl when you're finished with your temper tantrum I want you to know we are still doing this my way.  I'll be over here waiting to move you forward when your done throwing your fit."  Then once I finally do it His way I realize that it's great, awesome, wonderful, and I wonder why didn't I do this sooner?  Now you would think I would learn but that obstinate part of me still tries to "run the show" and Jesus patiently waits through each temper tantrum while I learn to obey.  He understands where it comes from.

Growing up in my family was tough.  It was "every man/woman/child for themselves".  No one cared about you in the larger sense because were all too busy trying to survive.  We were each separate entities that just happened to sleep in the same domicile.  You protected yourself, walled off your delicate heart and feelings to protect yourself and ducked and hid from the abuse to survive.  It was "survival of the fittest".   I learned that you hang onto every little thing you get, like it or not, with a death grip and never let go.  Even if it's something you don't want, you better grab it anyway.  I remember I was still hungry one night and my father had taken the last of meat entree. I said I wanted more and he said, "Too bad!  You snooze, you lose!" and that's the way it was.  Grab your share and disregard everything else.  I have been delivered from a lot of that but there is still traces of that in my heart and I pray daily God will set me free from that fully so that I can relax and not feel like everything is a major drama. 

I have the perfect story to illustrate this point.  Remember the Cabbage Patch doll craze?  Everyone would fly into the stores at the opening hour and grab them all off the shelf?  People were pushing, shoving, fighting, and clawing.  I watched this scene as arms were reaching around people that were in their way and just blindly grabbing a box.  One woman shouted to her daughter, "Just grab two!  We'll just take what we can get!"  They didn't even care about what they got.  They just grabbed and refused to let go or let anyone else get the dolls they were yanking off the shelf.

I also remember watching two fathers punching each other in the face at the mall while police were called to break it up and a little girl was wailing and sobbing, "Daddy!  Daddy!" because they were actually beating the heck out of each other over who would get the last "Tickle Me Elmo" doll.  This socialization can hinder us when we want to learn humility.  It's just against our norms to put others before ourselves. But this is what we have to do in order to be holy.  We live in tough times and they are getting tougher.  I pray that we don't build impenetrable walls around our hearts and stay open to the love of God and each other.  I found out in my healing that walling off my heart kept it from getting hurt but nothing good could get in either.  I couldn't feel love or anything.  I was empty with an aching heart.  Jesus knocked down those walls and now I can feel the love others have for me and most importantly, the love of God.  It's a risk because an open heart can be hurt but that's OK.  I want to experience all those feelings so that I can be whole.

Our Divine Mercy group is setting up a table at this opportunity fair (as I mentioned earlier) and I went to a craft and hobby store to pick up tea lights.  While there I noticed they already had 6 Christmas aisles set up.  The old me would have been livid as I didn't celebrate Christmas and would have been angry at the intrusion.  Now I realize that setting up these things early isn't an invasion but an invitation to browse so I could get ideas on how I want to decorate my tree this year.  I found myself lost in the aisles and contemplating a tree for the Blessed Mother covered with symbols attributed to her with rosaries all over it instead of strings of garlands.  As I thought this over it dawned on me how far I'd come.  Here I was spending a total of 3 hours in the these aisles, gathering ideas to honor the Blessed Mother and our Lord at Christmas in three months and I was joyful and excited.  There was no trace of anxiety.  Could it be the Lord delivered me from that too? 

I then, in a totally unplanned event, selected and purchased a nativity set that really spoke to me.  It's poly resin but looks like it's made out of wood.  As I put it in my cart tears started (just a little) and I was overcome with emotion that Christmas was coming to my apartment.  It is so neat that my first year living in my own apartment will be special as I will be celebrating Christmas for the first time since 1995.  I am very excited.  I was wandering the ornament aisle and prayed and asked God if this was a "good move" feeling a tiny fearful and then my eyes caught an ornament of Mary Queen of Angels...the name of my home parish and my favorite picture of our Blessed Mother.  I bought it immediately and accepted that as the Blessed Mother's way of hugging me and telling me that I was moving in the right direction.  This was proof that another small dose of healing happened in the aisles of that craft/hobby store.  Praise God!  I'm moving onto perfection and no that's not an unreasonable goal.  The Bible tells us that...  "Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (I John 3:2)  This will not be me making myself holy, it will be Him making me holy, and giving me the grace to say yes and quit throwing those tantrums.  Someday I will see Him and these struggles will then be over.  Hallelujah!