„He delivers and rescues,
he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth;
for he has saved Daniel
from the power of the lions.”. (Daniel 6:28)

A few days before we found out that our youngest son was conceived, I had a chirurgical intervention and I got a strong dose of anaesthetics. After that I took an antibiotic that is also prohibited during pregnancy but we were not aware that Michał was already there. So at the beginning of his life we were worried about his state of health and we were in fear for his life All the more we entrusted the situation to God. A this time we read the story of King Nebuchadnezzar who let throw three young men into the furnace. They experience a miraculous intervention of God: “But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace, 50 and made the inside of the furnace as though a moist wind were whistling through it. The fire did not touch them at all and caused them no pain or distress (Daniel 3: 49-50). I clutched to this story and asked God to send us also an angel who will save him.

Our Michał is 9 moths old now. He is healthy, very joyful and develops very well. And the first word accompanying his birth was Angel, because he was born precisely at noon, when we heard bells ringing for Angelus Dominus.

„For there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” (Daniel 3: 96)

Basia

„The most important thing in respect is looking. But looking at what? According to us, respect for other person consists in looking at everything they experience and in particular, paying attention to their feelings and needs. When you look at your child, you can concentrate on many things. You can look at their behaviour and assess it from your point of view: from the perspective of your needs and your criteria. But you can also try to look at the child from their own perspective, taking into account their needs and their feelings”. (Sura Hart, Victora Kindle Hodson, Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids 7 Keys to Turn Family Conflicts Into Co-operation)

And here we are close to what Benedict XVI wrote about:

„Going beyond exterior appearances, I perceive in others an interior desire for a sign of love, of concern.  (…). Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave. ” (Benedict XVI, Deus caritas est, 18)

Basia

„… against Wisdom evil cannot prevail.” (Wisdom 7: 30 )

Lord, You have shown us that love wins over everything. You have learnt us to love our enemies with your life. Nothing could shatter your love and goodness, even death on the cross. Let us also not be overcome by evil. Let us not lose hope in suffering, difficulties and problems. Give us strength to overcome obstacles and let us always trust in your mercy and never give up.

„Let me live that I may praise you,
and may your laws sustain me..” (Psalm 119: 175)

Basia

„ The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”  (Psalm 27: 1)

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Łk 15, 2)

„ You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? ” (Rz 14:10)

If I believe in God who is a defender and not an accuser and experience Him, such faith is an obligation for me to learn to see those around me with hope and to give them  safe space and time to grow. I am obliged to be patient and to accept them in the way He accepts us  – with understanding and sympathy, without being judgmental and superioriyu. With hope, because He always is hopeful against us.

Basia

“This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.(…) Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength”.(Ne 8: 9 – 10)

Although today is Thursday and not Sunday, I can still give it to the Lord and see things I can thank for and feel joy. I can appreciate my nearest and dearest, concentrate on the good in them. I can be thankful and from gratitude there’s only one step to real joy.

„I am thankful:

– when I can tidy up after a meeting because it means that I have friends;

– for the taxes I pay because it means that I have revenues;

– for the clothes that are too tight because it means that I have something to eat;

– for the lawn to mow and the house to paint because it means I have somewhere to live (…).

– for the tiredness and pain in my muscles because it means that I have worked hard;

– for the alarm clock that wakes me up in the morning because it means that I can live another day.” (Lasse Lundberg)*

It can be so helpful to change the way you think.

Have a good day!

Basia

*From the book of Liv Larsson “Gratitude and happiness as a lifestyle”, 2011.

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” – we read in today’s Gospel.

For each one of us God has a wonderful plan, full of peace and love. It is also full of invitation to step beyond ourselves and not stand in one place, to trust more. In spite of everything.

But sometimes it happens so that our life becomes very complicated. We do not understand anything any more and we fight against the temptation of resignation, we may tend to fall into scepticism, bitterness and depression.

At such moments it is worth coming with the questions to God, as Mary did and not sticking to our doubts. We may then hear ““The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you”.

It is good to change the change the perspective at the prayer and to have the confidence that beyond all the porblems and difficulties there is always love and grace, thet all things have their sense, that God knows best and He will lead us in a perfect way. We must only believe that “all things are possible with God”.

Our children and we – the parents – have great fun putting into practice the ideas for games described in the following book:

All kinds of rough and tumble play, pillow fights, rolling and cuddling are for us the time of laughter, relax, joy and being close to one another. We strengthen the ties among us and get rid of our resentments and stress.

According to the authors of this book physical games have an impact on physical and psychical health. Among other things, they develop children’s courage, confidence, trust and perseverance.

We recommend it!

Basia and Michał

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household”. (Ephesians 2: 19)

For the Lord even what we think of ourselves is important, how we call ourselves. He knows how these words can lift us up and strengthen us and which words have the opposite effect. He wants us to have a helathy self-confidence built on Him. Therefore He gives us through His wor a beautiful identity: fellow citizens with God’s people and members of His household. He looks at us as His people. He invites us to be His dear and near, members of His household.

When we believe His word and look at Him with His eyes, it alsways lead us to a happier and better “me”.

Basia

It is on Her day that six years ago we found our home. It was after a short search but after a two yeras’ prayer of our children to find “a house with a garden”. The keys to that house with a garden we received also on Her day (12 September).

So many times we experienced in our lives help, friendship and dscrete presence of Mary. We like to remember that our youngest son was born at 12.00 – when the the bells for Angelus Dominus were ringing.

In my view the words of today’s Bible reading refer so much to her:

“A loyal friend is a powerful defence: whoever finds one has indeed found a treasure. A loyal friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth. A loyal friend is the elixir of life, and those who fear the Lord will find one”. (Sirach 6: 5-17)