Has It Been A Year Already?

Its been said by many individuals much wiser than me, countless time; you have to set time aside for prayer, daily. I do this by both morning and evening prayers during times when I am most likely alone, either because everyone has yet to awaken in the morning or has already gone to bed for the night. My prayers aren’t too long and are usually to the point.
However, Sundays do seem to be more reflective days for me compared to other days of the week, despite what may be going on in my life. It would appear that has been true of me for quite some time. During these prayerful days I often find myself writing in variety of styles in various journals and/or books I have gathered throughout my life. Every so often I am compelled to go back and read what I have written in the past.
It just so happens that this past Sunday was one of those re-read days. I have set aside an hour every Sunday to spend time with our Lord in adoption of the holy Eucharist. (For my non-Catholic brothers and sisters this means I spend time with Jesus present in the consecrated host…still not clear? …well…ask a Mass attending Catholic, I’m trying to tell a story here.) I find it very useful to bring along my old school bag that has been stuffed with three years of pastoral ministries coursework. This includes a very well used and bruised study bible and several notebooks and journals. It was upon flipping through one of my journals that I came across something marvelous.
As I sat in Adoration this past October 21st I came across a journal entry I had made on October 21st of 2011 exactly one year later.
Now, you have to understand one thing about my style of writing, it’s sporadic. What I mean is that one day I’ll write a narrative, the next a poem, and then perhaps nothing for weeks.
So, coming across a piece of my work a year to the day has to be God speaking to me during this specific prayerful reflection time. Just what is it that has got me all worked up, you ask? Well that is the beautiful part of my tale.
My journal entry was directed toward my two boys. I was expressing my love for them, and also a bit of fatherly anxiety. This in itself is nothing new. However, it was the reason as to why I was doing so on this particular occasion that brings a smile to my face. On October 21st of 2011 my wife and I were expecting our third child and wife was six months into her pregnancy. Here we are today with my daughter, six months after her birth.
A year ago today we had no idea what the sex of our baby was to be. Now we can’t imagine our baby girl being anything else than who she is. Time has pushed us forward an entire year and the Lord had not allowed us to forget where we once were. The good and not so good have come and gone…and come and gone, but our blessing continue to multiply. Thanks be to God.
Who knows, we all may be looking back at this very day in a year. The Lord knows how bright our blessing will shine then.

Blessing,
Michael