When I can't pray.

Sometimes it's hard to pray when you feel ill and tired. Sometimes I can't pray, then worry that it's not that I can't but that I won't.

Do I feel a God who lets me feel so ill doesn't deserve to be prayed to , or that when my energy is at such a low ebb that I can't be bothered? I don't know the answers to these questions...and my brain feels fuddled.

But I don't MAKE myself pray...though maybe I should. I 'offer it up' and I shoot up the odd prayer: Help me...Come Holy Spirit...Father I put myself in your hands...Dear Mother pray for me...I'm sorry... I still love Him and try to obey Him except I don't follow my usual prayer schedule.

I'm too tired to think, so I put myself in His hands, and relax.

Grandchildren Joy

What a delight grandchildren are - especially when they are young. Our 2 youungest grandchildren come to us 4 days a week after school for 2 hours. We totally love having them. All that energy! I get to take them to their dancing classes which I really enjoy and sometimes their piano class (8 year old) and flute class (9 year old) which I love even more. BUT I don't have to supervise their practising the instruments, or provide the clothes for their dance exams and concerts. I get all the good bits. When we go round to their house they always give us a concert; dances and instruments. That is always such a joy as they usually practiced hard for us.

Once a week we have ART afternoon, when they and my husband do art together. They both adore that and so does Alex.

So yes, we love it, although we know they will one day outgrow us, but we just enjoy them while we've got them. Thank you Lord

Rosary Walk.

If you are the kind of person who enjoys killing two birds with one stone (what a wierd expression that is) then a rosary walk is for you.

I try to have a rosary walk every day - though sometimes the weather or health intervenes. The rosary walk is simple and improves your physical and spiritual health. The first thing is to have a 'tenner' a one decade rosary. These are so small they can be concealed in one hand. Then go for your walk around your neighbourhood (I aim for 30 mins) with your almost invisible tenner in your hand and as you walk, you silently pray the rosary. I love it. I often fantasise about the concept being widely used by Catholics. Imagine every Catholic walking daily around the streets quietly saying the rosary. It would transform the church and what would all that prayer in our streets do for our towns and cities? It would also be a silent witness to those who have the perception to realise what we are doing. I'm praying that one day it will happen.

traditions 2

In my bedroom I have a small prayer table. On it I have an icon of our beloved Lord, a beautiful rosary my daughter bought for me and a small statue of our Blessed Mother. Above it is a equally small crucifix. I love to put a quiet, unobtrusive symbol of the current feast day on the table. For example at the recent feast of Our Lady's Birthday I put a tiny wreath of red rose buds at her feet with prayer - a Hail Mary and a soft "Happy Birthday Blessed Mother." Later this week at the feast of The Triumph of the Cross I will adorn my crucifix with the roses and pray for sinners.

I love keeping these traditions, they teach us to be mindful of what it is happening in our universal church, and help us to live our lives in communion with Our Lord, His angels and His saints.

Traditions 1

Over the last few years I have started keeping more the traditions of the church and am amazed at the effects it has on my spiritual life. I have long kept Sunday as a day of rest from sunset (or 5pm)on Saturday to sunset (or 5pm) on Sunday. We really do need a day of rest to recharge our batteries as our God clearly knew. I have also started a minor fast on Fridays - at my age I think a true fast would not be healthy for me, though I do keep it on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday.

We also light a candle as we pray at our prayer table before our evening meal and I try to have a candle in the church colours of the day. It seems to bring me so close to the Universal Church.

Spring

Today is the second day of spring and it was a beautiful day; sunny and dry. Glorious after all the winter murk. But to remind us that we aren't really free of winter yet it was very cold, in fact there is going to be a frost tonight according to the weather forecast. But it was a foretaste, a glimmer, of what is to come. I much prefer spring to summer, which is too hot for me. I guess it is a example of the old adage that it's better to travel hopefully than to arrive! This saying does not apply to going to Heaven of course:-)