Encouragement

Dear Friends,

Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to talk to a mom who has been a part of the Children's Rosary for many years. She has sacrificed a great deal to help the Children's Rosary.  Read the post "when the impossible becomes possible" to give you just one example of the sacrifices she and her family have made to support the Children's Rosary. 

Well a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to share with her on the phone some of the beautiful blessings that have been coming. There have been so many people writing and calling with hopes of beginning Children's Rosary groups in their parishes. She was very excited to hear all that has been unfolding through the grace of God. A little while later she called back to share that after our conversation she had shared all this good news with her children. After this conversation a few minutes later the kids were calling from outside. A huge rainbow with extra rings extended across the sky.  Her youngest child Marianne immediately proclaimed "I think it is for the Children's Rosary". Her mom shared that she also agreed, feeling that the rainbow was an exclamation point to the conversation!

The following reading from Mass was read only two days after this beautiful moment of encouragement:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God."

The reading went on to state: "For as Christ's sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow. If we are afflicted, it is for your encouragement and salvation; if we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement, which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer." (2 Cor 1:3-6)

So amidst suffering, Our Lord also sends His encouragement. We are not meant to hide these little gifts given but share these blessings that others who may be at that moment in a time of trial, may be lifted up in Spirit.  

In this blog it is our hope to share the encouragement that Our Lord is sharing. We suffer, yes, but Our Lord's generosity abounds. I thank you all for all that you do to encourage me through this journey. 

So many are writing, sometimes with moments of trial when it seems difficult to find children who want to pray but then there are moments of sweetness when the difficulty and perseverance yields a beautiful moment.... a time when one feels God's pleasure with all the efforts and prayers that have been done to bring more little children together in prayer. So I thank you. 

We are on this journey together. I have heard it once said, satan's most worn tool is discouragement. So when we recognize such moments are not from Our Lord and we can help each other to get past these trials it is a good thing. In this way we can continue to pray and work in service of God.  Thank you all for your witnesses of encouragement. 

Your Friend in Christ,
Blythe 

* Note we did not have a picture of the rainbow mentioned in the post above. The picture included in this post is of a rainbow that was present on another day at our home. On a side note, we saw a rainbow again today! Praise Jesus for such beauty.