My Christmas Wish

What do you want for Christmas?
A question on everyone's lips for that last minute gift
Like a good girl, my Christmas shopping is done
What was on my list?
A book
A tablet
Nothing expensive
Nothing really special
Five days before Christmas as I'm lying in bed, praying
I realize what I really want
My mama
The way she was
Free of dementia and cancer
So like a child, I go to Jesus and ask for a miracle
Can you heal my mama for me?

Preperations

It was decreed by law that we must travel to Bethlehem
My hopes to of giving birth in the comfort of my own home were shattered
Joseph, right now is looking for a gentle donkey for me to ride on
Although I am great with child, I can walk
My husband insists otherwise
I am packing our clothes for the journey
And extra blankets for the babe that will come into the world soon
My neighbor asked only yesterday
Mary, you must be so frightened
I smiled and offered her a cup of water
There is no need to be frightened
I trust in the Lord

The Promise

To be able to receive Jesus was all I ever wanted
When the year came, things changed
My friends played ball in the park
While I stayed in bed, too weak to even read
Mama said that I should consider doing my First Communion next year
Each time she brought it up, I flooded my pillow with tears
So my lessons began with my mother's taechings
As winter turned into spring, the recovery I prayed for was not meant to be
Keeping food down was difficult
The blandest bread and the sweetest fruit did nothing to sooth my tummy
How could I receive Jesus like this?
For weeks and weeks I prayed, but I only got worse
Mama called a priest
On the day of May 3rd, I received three sacraments
The priest listened as I told him my sins
He placed the Host in my mouth and to my surprise I swallowed it with ease
Lastly, he gave me last rights
I took my last breadth that night
This is not a sad story, but a happy one
Before Jesus took my to heave I received my First Communion
I even wore a veil

Jesus' House

The end of the work day
Men and women - mostly older sit quietly in a chapel
The only sound is of a man's coughs
Halfway through the hour a woman with her two children walk in
All three dirty and noisy
The stares are one of bothersome
The mother talked to them of Jesus and Mary
Baby cooed and snuggled next to his mama
Little girl, loud and boisterous ran up to a statue of Mary holding baby Jesus
I love you May! I love you baby Jesus!
Her mother smiled
Happy that despite everything, her little girl still loved Jesus and Mary
Do we have to sleep in the car again tonight?
Tears began to flood the mother's eyes
Maybe Jesus will let us stay in His house tonight.

Nativity of Mary

How the angels smiled with delight at this unique creation from God
A baby girl born spotless
Such sweetness and purity is the birth of Our Lady
The mother of our Savior

Asking Mary for Prayers

I partake in a bible study at my church called, Walking With Purpose.It's a beautiful study and one that offers childcare for moms with kids. I have a three year daughter and this bible study in many ways has kept my sanity through some difficult times. This past Spring I decided to step up to the plate and handle the childcare portion of Walking With Purpose. That meant I had to find two people to watch the children one day a week for 26 weeks. I did not know where to look. My first thought was what had I done? I sought prayers to Our Lady. Miraculously I found three people for the position. An abundance of riches. For the glory of her Son, Mary will help us, if only we ask.

On Scraped Knees

On scraped knees she walks to Our Lady
Rain furiously beats down on her
No umbrella in her hand
Just a crumpled up piece of paper
A paper that holds an intention so dear to her heart
Rain soaks her skin, but it doesn't hide her tears
She approaches Mary with sadness as she places her prayer intention in the box
Looking up from her fog, she stares at Mary
Mary, so beautiful and pure with her sweet smile
Worry fades
Peace begins to move in
A stranger walks past her and puts a rosary in her hand
She clutches the rosary and kisses the beads
As she gets up on her feet, she begins a prayer she hasn't said in nearly a decade
Words to the prayers she believed long gone from memory came flooding back
With each prayer, her heart softens
Peace lifts her and a smile appears

The Lady at Mass

I love Mary and I often search for her in the women that cross my path. My daughter, Carter who is three has been a high energy child for over two years now. It is quite a challenge to keep her quiet at mass and believe me we have tried most everything. A few weeks ago my family and I were at mass. As usual we were in the narthax with our spirited child. There was another family there that day with a daughter about a year younger than mine. Carter took to the little girl immediately and played with her throughout mass. When it was time for the consecration, the mother of the little girl knelt down and folded her hands in prayer. Carter saw this beautiful lady and copied her. Instead of being annoyed, this lady took Carter's hands in her's and taught her the correct way to fold her hands in prayer. What a beautiful thing to watch. I truly saw Mary our mother in this woman. May God bless her and her beautiful family.

Mary and Lady's Slipper

lady's slipper

The lady's slipper flower symbolizes the walk our Lady took to visit St. Elizabeth. This journey has always impressed me. Mary took this trip right after she found our she was pregnant with our savior. Instead of worrying about herself being an unmarried pregnant teenager, she went to her cousin, Elizabeth's house to help. Elizabeth herself was pregnant with John the Baptist. How wonderful this must have been for Elizabeth to have her young cousin there for comfort.

Mary has always been a comfort to me. I run to her like a child often because I know she is my heavenly mother and her prayers calm me. As I walk through my everyday life, I see so many women that remind me of Mary with their simple acts or loving smiles. I see Mary everywhere and truthfully I am always searching for her. She is all around guiding us to her Son, all we have to do is pay attention.