originally WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2008
Pleasant Place and Hope
Those of you who visit Mom and Dad's house will notice a great increase in 'baby security.' Cupboards now have locks, doors have 'baby proof' handles (how did Mom do it with 13 kids without such great inventions?), volume control is in effect during nap time and after 8pm (I think Dad likes that one, since he's an early sleeper too) and the fridge is FULL of fun, colorful food. BJ, Ali and the four little ones have brought new life to the house.
Things at the Kloska Headquarters are crazy and joyous. And the sudden 'mood-lift' is greatly appreciated by all, I believe, after such a downer week last week. Yes, the world may seem like its going to hell in a handbasket, BUT, when you have those little footsteps, little knocks at your bathroom door, little breaths on your face as you cuddle a sleeping baby... those things can't help but remind you that God has hope for this world -and His hope, His answer to all of our prayers, is right within the souls of these little guys we trip over daily (BJ actually ended up on the kitchen floor this morning as Oliva played dinosaurs under his feet).
So just a note on this Wednesday night: The answers to our prayers are little seeds of grace, which God has sent His angels to plant in the hearts of many little ones in this world. Who knows, someday abortion may be ended by President Abe Swick and an explosion of vocations may be ignited in the Church by Mother Superior Anna Marino. Jesus told Mother Teresa once that He sent someone with the cure to AIDS and this child was aborted. Maybe all of our prayers and fasting have saved that one child's life who will then be instrumental in saving and changing the world. That's what I've been thinking about while doing Lexi's hair and changing Luke's diaper. Hidden in their lives is great hope -for through them God will answer our prayers. He already is.
Children show us the face of God -and His Presence with us is enough of a reason to rejoice. Last night Sarah kept calling her new baby cousin Noah 'Baby Jesus' -and that is exactly how God wants for us to care for and love all children. If it breaks my heart to hear Noah cry and I sacrifice everything to simply serve and love him -this love in my heart is actually God's Love in my heart. He created me to run to Him, crying through Noah's voice. And just as a baby's cry is the voice of God, calling forth His love from my heart, so our cry to God is actually the Holy Spirit praying within us, calling forth His answer of Love and Mercy. And if one drop of God's Love is so powerful in my heart (where I suffer if I cannot console the baby crying in my arms), how much more powerful is the totality of God's Love which IS listening to our cries. Just as a mother hears and runs to her crying child, so much more does God love us, hear us and run to console and help us. He does not abandon us. He does not leave us crying. He is here, speaking gentle words of love to us -it is just that sometimes we look in the wrong places to find and hear Him. He is speaking to us through the littlest ones we care for everyday. And His word to us is HOPE.
Anyway, these were just a few thoughts I had tonight at the end of a long day and I thought I would share them with you. Children are such a joy for this world -and a gift -even when they cry (especially when they cry), for through our love and care for them, we can see a reflection of God's love and care for us. God will hear our cries in this dark world -He has heard our cries -and you all (as parents) have the grace to be God's hands, forming the little souls which will carry His medicine, light and resurrection into this world.
This is the lesson I have been reminded of this week through BJ, Ali and the kids. And I think that remembering this is something all of us can benefit from. Sunday is the day when everyone comes to visit Mom and Dad -and there are sometimes 40 little 'beacons of hope' running around here. Well, yesterday I said to Kathy that life with BJ, Ali and the kids is a perpetual Sunday. And as I think about it, it is a beautiful truth. Children are a perpetual Sunday -as we remember Jesus' Resurrection on Sundays, children give us the same hope.
Welcome back to the neighborhood, Kentucky Kloska's! Its great to have you home. And if any of you readers are needing a little hope, you can come visit us for dinner -there are enough little footsteps in this house for everyone!
ps. I'd post some pictures (because there is nothing more fun to see on the blog than family pictures), but my camera went to the Philippines for a year to do some missionary work.
Things at the Kloska Headquarters are crazy and joyous. And the sudden 'mood-lift' is greatly appreciated by all, I believe, after such a downer week last week. Yes, the world may seem like its going to hell in a handbasket, BUT, when you have those little footsteps, little knocks at your bathroom door, little breaths on your face as you cuddle a sleeping baby... those things can't help but remind you that God has hope for this world -and His hope, His answer to all of our prayers, is right within the souls of these little guys we trip over daily (BJ actually ended up on the kitchen floor this morning as Oliva played dinosaurs under his feet).
So just a note on this Wednesday night: The answers to our prayers are little seeds of grace, which God has sent His angels to plant in the hearts of many little ones in this world. Who knows, someday abortion may be ended by President Abe Swick and an explosion of vocations may be ignited in the Church by Mother Superior Anna Marino. Jesus told Mother Teresa once that He sent someone with the cure to AIDS and this child was aborted. Maybe all of our prayers and fasting have saved that one child's life who will then be instrumental in saving and changing the world. That's what I've been thinking about while doing Lexi's hair and changing Luke's diaper. Hidden in their lives is great hope -for through them God will answer our prayers. He already is.
Children show us the face of God -and His Presence with us is enough of a reason to rejoice. Last night Sarah kept calling her new baby cousin Noah 'Baby Jesus' -and that is exactly how God wants for us to care for and love all children. If it breaks my heart to hear Noah cry and I sacrifice everything to simply serve and love him -this love in my heart is actually God's Love in my heart. He created me to run to Him, crying through Noah's voice. And just as a baby's cry is the voice of God, calling forth His love from my heart, so our cry to God is actually the Holy Spirit praying within us, calling forth His answer of Love and Mercy. And if one drop of God's Love is so powerful in my heart (where I suffer if I cannot console the baby crying in my arms), how much more powerful is the totality of God's Love which IS listening to our cries. Just as a mother hears and runs to her crying child, so much more does God love us, hear us and run to console and help us. He does not abandon us. He does not leave us crying. He is here, speaking gentle words of love to us -it is just that sometimes we look in the wrong places to find and hear Him. He is speaking to us through the littlest ones we care for everyday. And His word to us is HOPE.
Anyway, these were just a few thoughts I had tonight at the end of a long day and I thought I would share them with you. Children are such a joy for this world -and a gift -even when they cry (especially when they cry), for through our love and care for them, we can see a reflection of God's love and care for us. God will hear our cries in this dark world -He has heard our cries -and you all (as parents) have the grace to be God's hands, forming the little souls which will carry His medicine, light and resurrection into this world.
This is the lesson I have been reminded of this week through BJ, Ali and the kids. And I think that remembering this is something all of us can benefit from. Sunday is the day when everyone comes to visit Mom and Dad -and there are sometimes 40 little 'beacons of hope' running around here. Well, yesterday I said to Kathy that life with BJ, Ali and the kids is a perpetual Sunday. And as I think about it, it is a beautiful truth. Children are a perpetual Sunday -as we remember Jesus' Resurrection on Sundays, children give us the same hope.
Welcome back to the neighborhood, Kentucky Kloska's! Its great to have you home. And if any of you readers are needing a little hope, you can come visit us for dinner -there are enough little footsteps in this house for everyone!
ps. I'd post some pictures (because there is nothing more fun to see on the blog than family pictures), but my camera went to the Philippines for a year to do some missionary work.
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