Friday, October 26, 2007

Family woes

I have not been up to blogging. I found out my brother's wife asked for a divorice this week and it was a heavy blow. I only have one brother and I'm so very worried about him. He and his wife left the Catholic Church earlier this year and this is, I suppose, the end of the road for that period of his life. He still loves her very much but I don't think she wants to try at all. Please keep my brother and his poor children(who don't know yet) in your prayers. I hope that God will somehow touch his life and give him the strength and truth that he has been searching for.
I have been working around the clock with very little down time lately. I think I'm getting a bit tired. We are having a birthday party for my son and my neice here this weekend and I worry about the family situation in my house. For the children's sake, I hope people stay civil(and I sort of pray "she" doesn't show up). It's all just too much of a shock and too new for us to pretend we aren't hurt and angry right now. I will pray for her, her soul and that most importantly she finds the truth in Christ and His Church.
Another odd bit of news was the program at school this week for the kids(the "SAFE TOUCH" program) was attended by everyone but my kids. A non-Catholic group put on a puppet show that included talk of an "uh-oh feeling" and private parts, etc. Thankfully, as parents, we could opt our children out. As the mother of autistic boys, I deal with issues like this in my own way, when they are ready. I was shocked to find out no other parent had a problem with non-Catholics providing a talk/show about such a controversial issue. It is also "Red Ribbon Week"(Just Say No). My oppinion is still that children in a Catholic school, this young, don't need this hammered into them. I'm not sure who mandates it but I will say, at the very least, I trust the principal there as he is a great man with solid faith. If parents did their job with instructing kids, keeping them safe and making sure they have a good communication with them, these "programs" would be obsolete.
Regardless of all the bad things lately, I trust in God. I am so unbelievably thankful for the faith I have been given. My prayer is that my brother be given this same gift and accept it. I love him so much and I trust God to lead him to the truth and give him the comfort he needs, through Christ in others. While I have many reasons to be sad and upset, I find comfort in seeing God's hand in my life and in the lives of those around me.
The epistle from last Sunday was powerful and so I put it here as a reminder(to me):

Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.
Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.
In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one.
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

7 comments:

Tracy said...

Wow, what a week you have had!! Your brother and his family are in my prayers for sure, keep us updated.

Anonymous said...

In our CCD, er, Faith Formation, we've started to have to do a "Safe Touching" type program, even among the 4-5 year olds! Last year, when the program started, it was horribly botched by the DRE and many parents were upset that they were not notified the lessons were going to take place, let alone given the choice to allow or deny exposure to their children. (It doesn't help that some parents only bring their children sporadically, but that's not the point.)

I agree with your approach, even with non-autistic children. It is the parents' responsibility and I don't care for the thought of others teaching such delicate subjects. Yet another reason for me to want to homeschool.

Praying for you and your family.
God Bless!

Mulier Fortis said...

Prayers for you and yours. Hang on in there!

Anonymous said...

Oh my 'the safe touch' programme..sounds like poison...will pray for your brother..

Mrs. L said...

Your family is in my prayers. Suffering is so hard but so rewarding when you look back on it. I was just speaking to my husband about how this year has gone by, and the suffering it has included, and I was surprised that I was finally able to be grateful for the suffering I experienced. I’ve seen the growth that has emerged from it. Wow! You will get there too, in God's time.:)

About the "Safe touch class" my son last year (when he was only 1ST GRADE) came home with a note about this same class from his Catholic school. Of course my reaction is absolutely not. It's not that I plan to ignore this type of issue with my son, but I think there is also something else that must not be forgotten when considering this type of instruction to small children....their innocence, and how this class could ruin it! So very sad, and yes I too was the only parent in the ENTIRE SCHOOL that opted out of this. It's still shocking to me.

Laura The Crazy Mama said...

yuck to the "safe touch" program, and YUCK to the family situation. It's so hard to watch the destruction of a family. I will pray for them.

gemoftheocean said...

I'll pray for your brother. I really hate to hear about children's innocence being compromised this young. What a conundrum. At the same time, children need to be protected and it's sad to say that too many young children are abused in this way.