| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Lainey |
Posted - April 08 2004 : 1:46:01 PM
Today is Passover, a day when the Paschal Feast is celebrated to remember when God, during the Hebrew slavery in Egypt, let the plague 'pass over' the houses of the Jews - all marked with lamb's blood. He delivered them from slavery and their firstborn sons did not die.
Today, Passover, is also Holy Thursday - the night on which Christ celebrated the Paschal Supper as the First Mass & prepared to become the Paschal Lamb Himself. God's Son would suffer and die so that we'd all be delivered & live.
Two months ago, on February 8, as I had posted - my 18 year old nephew had a terrible skiing accident. He broke his neck & was airlifted to a W VA trauma center where they had to remove the top of his skull & take off a pancake sized blood clot. X-rays showed Joseph had a shard of bone embedded in his spinal cord & doctors said he'd be paralyzed from the neck down. Two days later they did neck surgery & could not find any obvious cord damage. I asked if anyone believed in miracles.
It's been a long, long road with a lot of suffering. Joseph had started to move his arms a few weeks back - pretty freely - though he's not yet recovered the fine motor skills in his fingers, & there was little enough progress that he had been given a May 5th release date - with little medical hope of any further recovery. Nonetheless, he's remained very positive & has never given up hope. He is incredibly positive & prayerful - he is patient & has not let his suffering go to naught. He has kept faith & never given up hope. Neither have those who love him given up hope & much prayer & suffering has gone to God for his continued healing.
My sister has not been home for two months - she's been at her son's bedside every day. His father, too, has been there as often as he could. This has given Joseph strength & encouragement.
Never give up hope ... there is always hope.
Last night, for the first time & completely out of the blue, Joseph started moving his legs! He's had NO movement in his legs all this time. AND he's going home for Easter weekend so he can be with his family! Deo gratias! That should really help his recovery - families should be together for Easter. He'll draw strength from that.
Some, at least, of Joseph's paralysis - possibly all one day - has passed over him & yes ... it is a miracle. Never give up hope & pray always. Christ makes all things new again.
It is important to remember that nothing is hopeless.
This morning I almost got creamed in a head-on. Still don't know how I managed to avoid this guy since he was speeding around a bend completely in my lane - I swerved to God knows where since there was no room & he came within a hair's breadth of my car. It made me think about a few things though - knowing I came that close to 'a deliverance' ... After that & later hearing about my nephew I wanted to tell you all, especially since I know there's quite a few people undergoing their own sufferings & illnesses, that you should never give up hope & always trust in Christ. He really does make all things new again.
And be careful what you pray for ... you just might get it.
Deo Gratias!
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| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Theresa |
Posted - April 09 2004 : 6:33:36 PM
At Maundy Thursday service there's a basket of spikes placed near the altar. We take one with us as we receive Holy Communion and keep it as we leave the santuary. There are no lights on so as the evening wanes it becomes very dark inside. The spike is a reminder of the suffering (physical) and the darkness of the forsakeness He felt.
Keep Him with you always. |
| Jo |
Posted - April 09 2004 : 12:41:48 PM
Can't add too much more than this; however; my prayers are in harmony with the season!
Jo |
| Lainey |
Posted - April 09 2004 : 12:09:50 AM
As St. Paul said, 'Be ready always to give an account of that hope that is in you.'
Joseph has overcome much. With God, he can overcome even more. And, GG, a good attitude sure does go a long way doesn't it?
quote:
I just spent Holy Thursday evening at a very moving Way of the Cross service and got to meditate and think about how nothing is impossible with God and He is the one to turn to with our troubles, our problems and torments.
Elaine, your story reinforces that wonderful truth. I have been thinking about Joseph and hearing this story reinforces my hope and my faith. I really hope the road to recovery will now be swift and smooth for him...
and thank God for your "delivery" from the accident. I've been in that exact same situation a couple times. It always amazes me.
I hope everybody has a blessed and thoughtful rest of Holy Week and Easter. There is a lot to think about and meditate on in these times. Take advantage of these days.
Christina,
Thank you for adding that. Yes ... there is a lot to meditate upon in these times. Things are stirring and people are being put through the wine press - but, as you said, nothing - nothing - is impossible with God.
I've also been going to The Way of the Cross/Stations of the Cross these past Lenten Fridays & the meditations are incredibly consoling, even though deeply sorrowful. Tonight I was at a beautiful Holy Thursday Mass [washing of the feet, Last Supper, etc.] & the emphasis on total humility, charity, & trust in God is overwhelming as the Passion begins. The stripped Altar, the empty Tabernacle, the covered Crucifix, the Blessed Sacrament Procession ... it's all profoundly sacred as we are drawn in to feel & meditate upon the Suffering Christ who is about to die. Complete faith & trust in God is the Way of the Cross. This IS the week to do it.
People always say; Be strong! Be strong! Be strong!
I think it's better at times to not be strong - be vulnerable & wounded & sorrowed & humbled so that God might find you and be strong in you & for you. Hang on to that Faith!
Blessed Easter to all ...
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| Christina |
Posted - April 08 2004 : 9:14:38 PM
I just spent Holy Thursday evening at a very moving Way of the Cross service and got to meditate and think about how nothing is impossible with God and He is the one to turn to with our troubles, our problems and torments.
Elaine, your story reinforces that wonderful truth. I have been thinking about Joseph and hearing this story reinforces my hope and my faith. I really hope the road to recovery will now be swift and smooth for him...
and thank God for your "delivery" from the accident. I've been in that exact same situation a couple times. It always amazes me.
I hope everybody has a blessed and thoughtful rest of Holy Week and Easter. There is a lot to think about and meditate on in these times. Take advantage of these days.
Christina |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - April 08 2004 : 4:03:00 PM
I had been wondering about Joseph, too. This is wonderful news! Thanks so much for the update, Lainey, and for the reminder to all of us about the wonderful, absolute, blessed power of prayer and faith in the Lord.
And I'm very glad that His hand was upon you today to keep you safe. |
| Gadget Girl |
Posted - April 08 2004 : 2:23:51 PM
Thanks for the update on Joseph - I have thought of him often. I will continue to keep him and his parents in my prayers. I know it is so difficult for your sister and her husband to deal with their child facing such a long road of hurdles to overcome. I know Joseph's spirit and hope keeps them all going and that they must be very proud of their young man! Attitude means so much in the healing process.
GG  |
| Stephanie |
Posted - April 08 2004 : 1:52:51 PM
Thanks for the message, Lainey. Yes there is always hope!
Stephanie |
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