The Seventh Station of the Cross....

Jesus falls a second time.

The cross grows heavier and Jesus falls a second time. He struggles to get up but does not give up.

Sometimes I am impatient when I fail. I become despondent about small things. I feel like giving up.

My dear Lord, help me to keep trying when I feel like giving up. Help me not to feel despair. By your example may I always be encouraged to do the best I can.

The Sixth Station of the Cross....

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

A woman suddenly comes out from the crowd, Veronica. She cannot do much to help but she cares enough to wipe the blood and sweat from the face of Jesus.

Do I notice the needs of others around me? Do I unselfishly offer help when I can? Or do I try not to get involved lest too much be asked of me?

Dear Jesus, just as your image was imprinted upon the cloth Veronica used, may it be always be imprinted on my heart, as a reminder to show compassion whenever I am able, for no other reward than just because I can.

The Fifth Station of the Cross....

Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross.

Jesus is weak and struggling. The soldiers are afraid he will not make it to the place of execution. They pull a man, Simon of Cyrene, from the crowd to help.

Do I always do as much as I can to help others? When asked for help do I  sometimes claim to be too busy? Do I get by doing as little as possible for others?

Dear Jesus, help me to recognise when others may need my help. Give me the grace to offer myself willingly and unselfishly. Let me not seek satisfaction in gratitude and likewise let me not be disappointed when none is offered. May my reward be the knowledge that you love me, and as such I seek to serve you in serving others.

The Fourth Station of the Cross.....

Jesus meets his mother.

Amidst the mocking crowd, Jesus meets his mother. She has not fled like the frightened disciples. She is courageous in accepting the fate of her beloved son because she remembers the words of the angel Gabriel, "Do not be afraid."

Holy Mary, by the example of your courage and faith in the face of extreme distress, guide me in my path through life. Help me to trust in my faith and not be afraid when faced with adversity.

Shameless

I just told a total stranger I saw in Asda I thought he was gorgeous!!!

He was in front of me at the self serve checkout. I was ogling him.

He left.

I left a few minutes later and he smiled at me through his open car window as he drove past me. I couldn't help myself and called out "You have made my day."

He slowed the car and leaned out and asked me why was that. I said "because you have curly hair and are wearing wellies." I asked him if he was a farmer and he said no but he had been working on a farm today. I said "My Dad was a farmer and I love farmers. You're gorgeous."

He drove away smiling, I think I made his day too.

If only........

(P.S. I think hormones are getting the better of me!)

The Third Station of the Cross....

...Jesus falls the first time.

Tired and bleeding, Jesus falls under the heavy weight of his cross. The soldiers and onlookers show no mercy as they abuse him.

How often do I fall? Sometimes I start things I do not finish if it proves too difficult. I put things off. I do not always work as diligently as I could.

My Jesus, it is not the weight of the cross but the burden of my sin that makes you fall. And your love for me that makes you get up and carry on. By the example of your courage help me to get up again, recognise my failings and, safe in the knowledge of your forgiveness, walk on.

The second Station of the Cross....

Jesus takes up his cross.

Jesus receives his cross and bears the terrible weight upon his shoulders. He does not complain but willingly accepts the tremendous burden as he begins his sorrowful journey.

What are my crosses? How well do I bear them? It is probably fair to say that many of us face up to the big crosses in life in stoic fashion. That is probably because we cannot avoid them if big enough to command our total attention. But what about the little crosses? The everyday annoyances and minor irritations. Do I respond well to them and embrace them as Christ embraced his cross? Or do I allow them to trip me up and fall over and over again?

Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to respond to the mundane and everyday crosses in my life. Remind me that my faith, with its supports of prayer and the sacraments, is there to guide, support and uplift me in the little things, as well as the great.

Stations of the Cross... First Station....

This morning the sermon at our church  was about the stations of the cross.

There are fourteen stations and fourteen days left till Easter so our priest urged us to consider one station every day. I think it is a good idea so will try to do it here.

The first station, Jesus is condemned to death...

Already humiliated, ridiculed, flogged and crowned with thorns, Jesus receives the news he is now to be put to death. No one speaks up for him, no one defends him, no one objects. He has devoted his life to caring for others but now he is ignored. He accepts his fate with quiet calm, without resistance.

How do I react when in a situation that I feel is unfair to me? I object, I complain, I vociferously declare my innocence, I may even try and lay the blame at the feet of others.

As I consider the first station of the cross, I am humbled by Christ's quiet acceptance of the fate he cannot change. I hope that guided by his example I find the grace to accept the things I cannot change in my life and the strength to bear those that I will find a challenge.

Right now....

...we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our new girls and they have a lovely new house...

...there is a lot of promising blossom on our Lizzie plum tree....

we are enjoying the unseasonal warmth hanging out with cousins...

and brothers...

....sharing a pair of roller skates and enjoying it...

...eating lots of eggs daily for breakfast...

...hence the need for a few more of these...

It's all good.

Inner Calm.

Yesterday I started my new job in the Christian GP practice. I was actually posted to one of the other surgeries in the group at the last minute, so had met nobody there previously.

They were all very welcoming and pleased to see me. The work was pleasant.

At lunchtime, after eating, a lovely nurse quietly read aloud an inspirational spiritual passage.

Today I noticed these words on the notice board:

If you are devoted to the cause of humanity, you will soon be exhausted and have your heart broken by ingratitude, but if the main spring of your service is love for Jesus, you can serve men although they treat you as a doormat. Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it.

Oswald Chambers.

I find  this a very profound and moving statement. It makes me feel calm.

In fact if summing up my experience over the two days, I would say that my overwhelming feeling is a sense of calm and mutual respect.  I feel good.

(I,d even go as far as saying my piles feel better!!)

Britain in a Day.

My contribution...........

This week........

.......I have circumnavigated the globe on foot,(at least it bloody well feels like it) on a new paper round.

I needed a nebuliser after the first day.

And the car was also in dock for the best part of two days necessitating plenty of Shanks's pony. My trotters are killing me!

....I have been delighted by a £1.50 pot of tete-a-tetes made doubly joyous by the fact they are the perfect fit for this lovely Wade vase, a snip at £3 in a cancer research shop.

I am pressing on with a crochet blanket that is for my eldests little car.......

I am fairly new to crochet so am pleased with it thus far, even though the pink is a bit psychedelic.

It is that time of year again....

and one greedy brother who shall remain nameless, (you know who you are Anthony) has scoffed his way through two jars in a week....

After the sad news of the death of the blinded policeman and listening to a woman on the radio who was suddenly and totally blinded saying she missed gazing at the clouds most of all, I got a crick in my neck last evening gazing at a lovely mackerel sky and thanking God for my eyesight.

Lastly, I have secured a position with a medical agency for some regular practice nurse work in a Christian practice. On the reception counter is a slotted box, not for repeat prescriptions, but for prayer requests. I was totally uplifted by this.  It is inspiring to come across people in this increasingly secularised society who, like the women of Jerusalem Christ encountered on his trip to Calvary, are unafraid to announce their faith. I cannot wait to start work there next week.