"It is the little things that make me happy" seems to be the mantra of my heart and soul these days.
A few weeks ago my husband asked me if I had tried a pretzel bagel from a new bagel shop that had opened in town. I love pretzels - always have since I was very young - and Ray knew that I would love this pretzel bagel.
Soon after our conversation, I was passing the bagel shop and I decided to drive through and try one. They were sold out. Then I tried again on another day and they had just sold 13 of their last pretzel bagels to a person that drove through a few minutes before me. I tried again on another day- and, much to my surprise (not) - no pretzel bagels left. I decided to ask to speak to the manager about the lack of pretzel bagel situation. He was a very pleasant guy and explained to me that I must be just hitting them at just the wrong time because they continually make fresh bagels every 3 hours so that they remain fresh and taste good. He felt badly that I had been through a few times and had not been able to procure a pretzel bagel, so he bought me the salt bagel that I ordered in its' stead. I felt badly about bothering the manager and then felt worse about him buying me that salt bagel to replace the pretzel bagel that they did not have. I thanked him and took the bagel with embarrassment and thanksgiving. It was such a small ridiculous desire. Then I silently prayed a Hail Mary for him as I drove away.
Last Friday was the Feast of the Visitation. It is one of my many favorite Feast days of the year and I decided to run over to St. John Neumann to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour. Before I got there, I thought that I would try that bagel shop again for a pretzel bagel. Voila! They had 5 pretzel bagels available! I requested one - toasted and buttered along with a nice hot cup of tea and went on my way! And it was delicious. So, I turned my thoughts and heart to God and I thanked Him for the Feast day and the bagel. I told Him that it was in the little things that made me happy. Then I went over to the church and prayed my holy hour content, peaceful, happy and full.
The next day, Saturday, my daughter, Kristin, and I were running around doing errands together. We decided to drive through Starbucks for a little pick-me-up half way through the running around. As I was driving into the parking lot, I was given in prayer that I was not to get my favorite drink from there - a chai latte with soy milk. I was really looking forward to that chai. But I was obedient to the inspiration and ordered a decaf latte to keep it simple. After I took a sip of the latte, I discovered that it was delicious and it really wasn't much of a sacrifice and I told that to God in silent prayer. I was somewhat apologetic as I was very much enjoying that decaf latte. And, immediately, I got back in prayer: "It is in the little things that make me happy". God has a wonderful sense of humor!
Yesterday I was watering my plants on my front porch. I have an herb garden on the side of my house but I decided to put a few in a pot and I love they way that it looks:
While I was watering it, something very teeny-tiny caught my eye...
It was a very tiny baby Praying Mantis sitting on a branch of the thyme! I usually do not love bugs - they creep me out. But a Praying Mantis is very different - they are amazing, remarkable, interesting creatures. I loved seeing this remarkable creature - it was so, so small - barely the size of my pinky nail. I could not help but think about how precious, how important something can be when it is small - a smile given to someone that needs it, a Hail Mary for someone's intentions, the sacrifice of a chai latte and even a very small, very tiny, baby Praying Mantis. Oh, and a pretzel bagel of course!
On this special Feast of St. Charles Lwanga and his Companions from Uganda, it is with much joy and great anticipation, that I am able to share that the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mission Team has been invited and will be traveling to Mombasa and Uganda in mid-August to lead more Enthronement Missions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. God is very good! All the time!
The members of the Team that traveled last year, Father William Oruko, Lisa Morris, Theresa Eilerman, Judi Pedas, and Pamela Angawa (of Kisumu, Kenya), will be joined by our wonderful friend, Giannine Morris.
I have discerned through much prayer that I am not to travel with the team to Africa this year, but will accompany them on other pilgrimages in the future. It never occurred to me that I would not be traveling with them to Africa again. When we attempted to purchase the tickets for the trip, we had major issues finalizing the purchase and then each time we tried to repurchase, the price kept going up, and up, and up, and in the end, we still could not finalize the purchase. After not being able to purchase the tickets, we decided to take a break and have each one of us pray about it. It was during this time of prayer that I discerned that it was me - that I was not to go this time - that the timing of the trip was not right for me - but that there would be other pilgrimages that I would go on with the team in the future. I called Lisa, gave her the news and it was then that they were able to purchase and finalize the tickets.
Sometimes God's Will is hard to discern and sometimes it is even harder to accept. I am very sorry that I will not be traveling with the team. I will miss being with them and I will miss meeting up with friends that I made on our last trip there. However, I am at peace when I listen to what God wants me to do and, for the present, I have peace about not traveling with the team.
In honor of the Feast of Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs from Uganda, I thought that I would share this wonderful, inspiring video, presented by Father Robert Barron from the Word on Fire website:
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pray for us! Rosa Mystica, Pray for us!
Dearest Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, please pray for us! Please pray for the upcoming Enthronement Missions in Africa! Please pray for our Team traveling to Africa and for all of the pilgrims that will be attending the Missions!
