Shepherdless

 

For the first time in 600 years, the Pope resigned.

What does this mean for the Catholic Church, it's people and their leaders? What will happen in the future?

When will we get a new Pope, will he be able to withstand being the Pope while the former is still in the area?  Will he try to get back to the basics of our faith, will he get strict and get rid or try to eliminate the problems of the scandals our Church has been facing?

These are all questions we all have, and probably many, many more.  

Unfortunately, I have no answers to these questions, as I really don't think anyone does. 

What we can do is know that "He is with us always."

We need to have faith and trust that when the Cardinals do begin the conclave to elect our new Pope, that the Holy Spirit guides them and they do elect a most holy person to do the job.

I pray that the next Pope will be strong enough to stand up for what is right and just.  

Our culture is a mess right now, we know that Jesus built the Catholic Church with St. Peter as the foundation for the future.

The True Church can never fail. For it is based upon a rock. – T.S. Eliot

During school, we talked about the fact that our Church no longer has a leader and we must pray for the Church.  Marcus said, "St. Peter should just come back and be the Pope again."  He has a firm understanding of his faith, and the Bible.  I am so thankful that we can teach our children the faith here in our home, without all the disturbing things that happen in the schools....transgender children, bullies, drugs, sex, foul language, etc.

So, even though the flock has lost a shepherd, we will gain a new one, and hopeful one of a very strong faith.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 

Pray without ceasing,

This is all we can do until we have a new shepherd..

FRIENDS

We all have friends...

some of them have been with us since childhood,

some are more recent and then there are

others are yet to be met.

I for one do not really have friends from my childhood, sure I am "friends" with a few on facebook, but it isn't the same.

They are mainly acquaintances, and that is fine because they are still a "friend".

The friends I have met through my MOMS group and the library have become important to me, not only for my sake, but for all the children.  

I am hoping that the time I spend with friends here at our house or at their house will be remembered by the children, because as mommies are 

growing their friendship, the children are also working on growing their friendship.

It is great to watch the bonds form for children. I love watching my "littles" play with children that they know.  Sure children fight or don't get along, but don't we as adults find the same thing happen on occasion?

When we hurt our friends or our friends hurt us for what ever reason, we need to show our children how to forgive and move on with the friendship.  

Or in the worst case,

 show how to dissolve a friendship with dignity.

 (not that we want it to happen, but sometimes it does, happen

whether it is our own volition or volition of the other party)

It is hard and we need to be strong, and mature and show our children

how to handle the disappointment of losing a friend.

We must also be ready to show our children how to apologize if we hurt a friend, or push someone away,

so they know what to do if these things happen to them.

Part of being a friend is knowing when to pull back if the friendship gets too hard to handle, or "suffocating"

showing the person you care by giving them space, 

and welcoming them back with open arms 

when they do come back.  

Just as the father did in the story of the "Prodigal Son".

 

We must not be jealous if a person goes away for awhile to explore new friendships, we must be glad for them.  And in return, I would hope that the person would do the same, and use the lesson to teach the children in the family.

We are wonderfully made by God, none of us are the same, just as there are not two snowflakes that are the same, however, we do have a lot of similarities, and that is what makes us friends.

We need to celebrate our similarities and differences, accept that we are different, and know that we may not always agree, but we will be there through the good and bad times.

 

I am thankful for the friends that have been with me through my sad times-losing mom and grandmother, 

and my happy times-births of our wonderful "littles".

I look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for each of us and for our children as we grow older and continue this crazy path called life!

God, please bless my friends of the past, present and future, as well as the friends of the littles!