i got an email from a friend of his out in colorado. she told me that he cried over having to deploy at such a hard time for me. i've been trying to be strong and not let him worry about me so that his deployment wouldn't weigh heavier than it already does. i decided that maybe it would help a little if he knew i felt bad along with him.
i texted him and said:
i feel like you'll be closer over there than if you were over here-joining in my agony.
but i wish you could be closer to more deeply share the joy.
and the Holy Spirit worked some kind of magic last night. on his way out of the country he got split up from his group along with three other soldiers and ended up being rerouted through atlanta. so he spent the night at mom and dad's last night. i woke the kids up before dawn to trek down into atlanta. henry served the mass he said this morning and it couldn't have gone better. we hung out at mom and dad's house after mass.
it was so good to say goodbye again. so much will happen before i get to hug him again. would it be too big of a prayer to ask God to grant me the blessing of introducing jedi to his uncle father kevin?
Oh Liz - my heart aches for you both. But, I am so glad that you got such an unexpected blessing. And remember that no prayer is ever too big for God! I spoke to a woman yesterday who told me that her niece's baby was diagnosed with dwarfism and a whole host of other issues that were "incompatible with life." The woman said to me, "but my niece believes in prayer and miracles." She said the baby was born absolutely, perfectly healthy, utterly confounding the doctors. xoxo
ReplyDeleteGOD IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLaura
I have nothing helpful to say... just that I hear you and my heart aches for you.
ReplyDeleteNo prayer is too big to ask of God. :o) We may ask, and we must accept His will, whether its what we would like or not. But, of course, you know that. ;o)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you got to see him again before he left. God bless him for his willingness to share and bring Jesus to the heavy, combat weary souls in Afghanistan. Praise God for the beautiful relationship you have with your brother.
I can’t count the number of times Fr Kevin has said to me, “With God, nothing is impossible!” ~Even if he can’t make it back physically at this point, maybe you could Skype him into the delivery room? ~And of course, we know he is with you spiritually at every step of this journey…
ReplyDeleteYou and Jedi are in my daily prayers… and those of my Carmelite brothers and sisters here in Atlanta. Thank you for your spiritual insights and inspiring words.
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI am a nurse friend of Fr. K's. I am sad to see him shipped off again, although, he could not look happier in your picture. I ran into your mother at Emory Midtown this summer and she told me about Jedediah, sweet baby boy. I have delivered many babies over the past 20 years and know that your delivery will be so very special. My heart and prayers are with you. You are a warrior and bring hope for all expecting mothers. Our Blessed Mother walks with you every day.
M.A.Liddy, PTC
You will have our prayers.....I was going to send Fr. Kevin the prayer I will say each day to help support his efforts during his deployment. It just happens to be Mother Teresa's prayer: "O Blessed Mother, please give me your heart, so pure, so holy, so Immaculate, so full of love and humility, that I may receive Jesus worthily in the Bread of Life, love Him as you loved Him and serve Him faithfully in the poorest of the poor."
ReplyDeleteI will include you, your family and your brother Fr. Kevin in my prayers each night when I invoke Mother Teresa's intercession for "the poorest of the poor" and those in special need.
I work with special needs students....they are a tremendous blessing - a great gift that opens one to the beauty of all God's creation.
Be not afraid....Trust....and "Be Blessed" (as one of my disabled adults with a terminal illness often says as she closes her conversation with me).
~Terri in Plano
HI Liz,
ReplyDeleteI am new to your blog and was brought here by request of my dear friend Jessica at Shower of Roses. My heart goes out to you. I wanted you to know that I have suffered a great loss recently and will offer my suffering for you, your family and your brother. My husband, LTC Robert Baldwin was deployed to Kandahar Afghanistan and was killed in a helicopter accident on Sept 21. He had been gone since late February. He left when our youngest was exactly 3 weeks old. This was his third tour to Afghanistan. We were almost done. We only had 3 years to retirement. We had hoped this was our last deployment. Rob had missed so much fo our 4 children's lives. When I received "the knock" at my door, my mind was at war with itself. Very much as you have described in your blog about the birth of your sweet baby. I had to succomb to the bitter painful truth and it broke me to pieces. My heart now breaks for you. My husband is gone. There is nothing I can do but to do good with my suffering. I humbly offer it for you, your family, and your brother, Fr. Kevin.
God Bless you and your family.
Danielle