Life

At morning Mass yesterday, the priest challenged us to take responsibility for our own spiritual life. Jesus Christ came to earth so that we can relate to our God as a person. If we spend time with Jesus in daily study and prayer, our life will reflect his glory. We cannot depend on someone else to manage that relationship. Relationships are a 2-way street.

The balance of the morning was spent joining sisters in ministry to sick and dying babies. We hung countless cloth diapers on the line to dry, measured out vitamins and supplements, and loved on babies. Children arrive malnourished and sometimes fighting for their precious life. Parents visit the children daily while the sisters nurse them back to health. Can you imagine how painful it is for parents to have a helpless baby in their care, and to be unable to provide for their most basic nutrition and medical needs? I held an 8-month old boy for a long time who was the size of a 2 week old. Too weak to support his head, his eyes were bright and intelligent. He was tremendously uncomfortable and I could find nothing to sooth him.  I offered him a bottle time and again and he shoved it away in frustration. Then his mother arrived to visit and he immediately relaxed and began to nurse. He knew exactly what he needed most to sustain life and to thrive.

 

We joined brothers (Missionaries of the Poor) in the afternoon who dedicate their lives to caring for the most vulnerable and disabled with severe physical and mental disabilities. 81 children and adults are in their care. The brothers see Jesus in each one and serve with genuine joy and love. They take vows of poverty, obedience, chastity and free service to the poor. I was visiting with Brother Paolo. He explained to me that the entire compound was given to them by an organization called Food for the Poor. Then he observed, in a humble and simple way, “Food for the Poor gives food to the hungry. We give our lives.”

It is a joy to watch this team give themselves fully to free service this week. Pray that each one finds a life-long way to respond to what they see and learn in Haiti.

This morning the lyrics to “Glory to God” are running thru my head. “Take my life and let it be, all for you and for Your glory. Take my life and let it be yours.”

Peace

Joyce