The longer I think about it, the more I see that the history of our life is only partly shaped by events. It is much more our reaction to those events that is the shaping factor. Practically, there are no limits here to our creativity and imagination. The imagination of love.

Love can create a masterpiece even our of a disaster. It can change a blunder into a joke, it can disarm anger with a cuddle, it can stop us from despair with the hope that we’ll do it.

Everything is in our hands. Even if we sometimes make big ink blots on our lines.

Małgosia

Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him (Mark 3:9)

It’s quite clear that the New Year has worn off a bit already. There are not fewer duties, but more, I’d say. There are new commitments to accept and new projects to realise, both at work and at home.  And I’m just waiting for someone to appreciate me, or even more- to understand my intentions. Just a bit of vanity.

A little, teeny-weeny bit.

There’s only one “but”. Jesus warns me against it today. He shows that once he’d helped everyone at the lake, He was prepared to leave immediately. He did not stay to listen to appreciation and to succumb to the euphoria of the crowd. That was not what He came for.

Can I do it like that?

I must confess that not, really.

Dosia

With Him, we’ll do the difficult things tomorrow, and the impossible ones – a bit later.

I remain very impressed by the programmes for the families. They are so close to daily life and give energy for a long time afterwards.

I am very happy about the opportunity to repeat Programme 3 – I could do it because I lead with my husband the workshops. It’s so good to learn how much we can do and that it is not life that moves us where it wants but we have a lot to say. about the “here and now” of our life and family. It’s good to see how time management is closely connected with the management of our hearts. And not only do we find it out, but also experience it when we work together.

The materials for Wrocław were packed by the co-author herself. The whole editing team was involved in producing the gadgets for the workshops. I’d like to thank our Jacek, who’s bought the pipes, that he mopped all the floors after everyone. This was solidarity in practice.  .

The Captain asked for prayers on this blog and I’d like to thank for it together with the others. Without this support this project, which was at times beyond human means, would never succeed. And there were so many miraculous coincidences! .

Małgosia

When I make an inventory, similar to Michael’s when he sums up his economic activity throughout the year, I listen to what is most important to me. It’s very easy to see those number ones because we fear most to lose them.

Than I look at the truth about myself: the daily reminder I know Whom I trusted; then the wedding ring on my finger, children’s clothes on the dryer but also the surrounding circumstances, pain in the back and other symptoms.

Sometimes number ones need a certain correction. Sometimes they are subject to negotiations. Sometimes we have to bid farewell to one of them and then we’re sad. Like to buying an extra dress when what’s more necessary are new shoes for the daughter because the old ones are leaking.

However, Gollum comes to my mind (have you seen “The Hobbit” yet?); Gollum who so much wanted this one thing only that he never realised he’d turned into this:

When I give all my number ones to the Lord, my Number One, He will not only arrange them but will also surprise me and fulfil the desires far deeper than skin deep and He will give me this beauty that comes from the freedom from oneself. I ask Him for this – to have the heart free to love.

M

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim… (1John 1:1)

He’s done everything so that you might touch Him, like St John did.

He knew that as a newborn baby needs the touch – you’ll have the same basic need, too. For some reasons He was not afraid of your scratches, wounds or dirt. You may touch Him whenever you want. You may touch Him in His Word – you can feel it under your fingertips when you tap the relevant app on your portable device, if you prefer it over the paperback or hardcover.

You may touch Him in the Eucharist, you may – as St John – rest on His Heart, where all the torment finds relief. You may – like a child – get entangled in His robe, get lost in it completely. You may let Him grip your hand firmly when the world around you seems to be collapsing.

No matter if you experienced in your life the “bad touch” or not enough of touch – you can touch Him and let Him touch you without fear. That’s why He came to this world. To tell you about the proximity you don’t have to be afraid of.

M

I’m so much looking forward to seeing you and telling you how much I love you. Even if you ask about it thousand times, I shall never get tired of telling you about my love.

And you will never be lonely again. That is why I have come to the earth – to take away the course of loneliness and self-sufficiency.

I shall come soon – wait for me without fear that I shall pass your door as too humble.

I can’t wait to meet you at our supper.

Jesus

There’s a 15th-century English carol which tells about the journey of the Holy Family – pregnant Mary and St Joseph – to the census in Bethlehem. In that story Mary asks Joseph to pick some cherries for her, as they’re passing by a chery tree. And then Joseph speaks to Mary with very little politness: “Go and ask the father of the baby to pick the cherries for you”. At that moment the cherry tree lowers its branches down to the ground for Mary to pick the cherries for herself. Joseph speaks the words of profound repentence.

“Cherry Tree Carol” – belongs of course to the apocryphal tradition. The fact that Mary has a “longing” – as pregnant women do – is very moving, but St Joseph has to forgive the authors sketching him in such an unfavourable manner. But even that folk ballad tells a lot about Holy Mary and the marriage itself. In our non-holy lives – if we were Her – we would have a perfect material for at least a minor argument. At least a quick and sharp retort. Or even the shortest litany of unfulfilled expectations.

And here – the folk wisdom says that when you do not try to prove the other person wrong – God may act and bring in a surprise of His grace.

And this is how we might avoid a “pre-Christmas argument”. For which I pray especially – for me and for you – to the Holy Family wandering to Bethlehem these days. 🙂

M

“Cherry Tree Carol” by Sting –  HERE.

I’m preparing a list of ideas for “perfect Christmas” for my student of English. I find dozens of ideas in the world wide web “counselling service”. So you can’t do without hand-made home decorations, the Christmas cookbook which will make your dreams come true if you follow the recipes carefully enough – at the end the opus magnum is crowned with the cake topping designed by a celebrity. And you shouldn’t forget about the presents up to $50 and above $50, paying speciall attention to the ideas for gifts for senior memmers of your family.

The shop display reminds me of the necessity of buying dried apples and confectioned fruit – and the shop assistants explain to each other that the shopkeeper raised the prices by 60 % this morning.

In the heat of the queue my make up melts together with the hope of attaining any degree of perfection. And then I wonder if the humanity might do just with a campfire in the woods, roasting bread on it, as they did during the war. And I remember that all the snow of Alaska won’t make a “white Christmas” if we do not share a piece of our hearts and blessing.*

Let there be enough love to decorate Christmas. 🙂

Małgosia

*Bing Crosby

For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you: Do not fear; I will help.

(Isaiah 41,13)