Year Two, Day 229 Who I Am

I woke up this morning feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted from my chest.

And actually, my wheezing and coughing is almost completely gone.

I think I am relieved that Christmas is over.  For another year.

But in all honestly, yesterday was wonderful. After I broke through my wall of negativity.

My daughter and her husband met me at church. I was not expecting them to come. It was a nice surprise.  I felt proud sitting there with my family.  They have a church they belong to, but they went to service on Christmas Eve.

I was happy they came because the pastor gave a very interesting, inspiring sermon.

I felt revived. I coughed quite a bit, but my soul was happy.

After church we went home and prepared food to take to my brothers house. Then we grabbed my son and headed out.  We all were in good spirits.  All the stress from the last few weeks seemed to evaporate.  And we all knew what awaiting us at my brothers house. His famous prime rib and horseradish sauce!

We had a lovely time.  My pimento cheese was a hit! So was my famous broccoli salad.

And that prime rib...OMG!

I did not think about healthy eating. At all.

We had a really joyful family gathering.  Even my dad was in good spirits.  He has a history of being cranky at holidays.  But since his stroke, he has mellowed out.

And when we went around the table saying what we were joyful about this Christmas, he said he was joyful to be alive. My brother said he was joyful that our mother was taking such good care of our father. I glanced over at her and she had tears in her eyes.

My father, who rarely expresses gratitude said, "I second that".

There was a moment of silence. It was like we all exhaled.  There was peace at our table.  It was the best Christmas ever!

Of course, there were presents, and games and jokes and desserts, but that moment at the table is what made is stellar for me!

I am so looking forward to life getting back to normal.  Especially my new normal of working out, eating healthy and being positive.

But life is never predictable. Both my daughter and son now have the flu. I made a big pot of homemade chicken vegetable soup.  I have been playing nurse all day. 

But I noticed that I was really happy in this role. I like to take care of people.  I like having a purpose.   I had a nice workout this morning after a dental checkup.  Then I picked up ingredients for soup.

But how I started the day is what I want to share.

I try to always start my day with prayer, writing in my prayer journal and bible reading.  I found  book that I have been reading daily.  It is based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. I believe I got it when I was in a SEEL retreat (Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life) at St. Ignatius Catholic Church a few years ago.

The book has daily meditations for 36 weeks. Each day there is a scripture to reflect on. A story from the life of St. Ignatius. And a question for me to answer to apply the lesson to my life.

Today I began Week 2.  The focus of week 2 is "Who Am I?". I chuckled when I saw that. I joke with my daughter that I often feel like I do not know who I am.

But today, after the reading, the question was "Give three answers to the question, Who are You?"

It has taken me nearly 55 years. But at last I know.

Not just three, but 15 answers to the question!

Who I Am

1. A child of God

2. A mother.

3. A teacher.

4. A student of the Bible.

5. A helper to those in need.

6. A sister.

7. A daughter.

8. An aunt

9. A great aunt

10. A friend

11. A healer to those who are sick or in pain.

12, A seeker of truth.

13. A musician.

 14. A writer.
15. A Christian.

Someday I may be a wife or a girlfriend again.  I can always expand the list, right?

I think 2017 is going to be a good year.

The scripture of the day is one of my favorite.  It is from Psalm 8. But I would like to share the whole Psalm.  Reading it lifted me up.

I hope you enjoy it too.

Happy Monday!

 Psalm 8

(NKJV)

"O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

² Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,^[b]
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
⁷ All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
⁸ The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!"