Family in Feast and Feria

Angela at Three Plus Two is hosting a regular Wednesday fair through May (through Easter season) on Finding Joy.

The timing couldn't be better. Old Man Winter doesn't seem to want to give up, we keep coming down with various viruses...plenty enough to make us stir crazy. Being sick and housebound sometimes gives a skewed look on things.

So even before Jennifer's idea I've been thinking and praying along these lines.

• First of all, the Easter joy. That has been incredible. For the octave of Easter we've been saying with the Liturgy:
  
  

  This is the day the Lord has made!
  Let us rejoice and be glad in it, Alleluia, Alleluia!

  
  
  Christ is risen! We are not looking backwards to a past historical moment. Jesus Christ is risen today, now, in the present. To keep that reminder in my heart helps buoy my spirits.
  
  I love the custom from various Eastern rites that greet each other during the Easter season with some form of:
  
  

  "Christ is risen, Alleluia!"
  "He is risen indeed, Alleluia!" is the response

  
  This is a great practice to keep the reality of the resurrection in the present moment.



• Along the same lines, it fills my heart with joy seeing sharing our Faith together as a family. First of all, it is a true blessing to have my husband who is such a good man, who loves his Catholic Faith, and we pray and talk and share our Faith together. It is such a blessing to be united in raising our son, teaching him the Faith and seeing our son enjoy and grow in the love of God. Ds truly enjoyed celebrating the Triduum, and we are much richer seeing the Paschal Mysteries through his eyes.



• A great joy in my life is that my son's food allergies are less serious. We still avoid his allergens (eggs, dairy, and wheat) in eating, but he's now able to touch some of the offenders without reactions. I had such happiness seeing his color and dye eggs hard-boiled eggs, to be able to hunt for real eggs this year, without worrying of the contact allergy. He also can play with Playdoh without hives. Praise God for the little things!



• I've mentioned before my struggle with secondary infertility. Daily my prayer has been "Fiat", so I can embrace God's will for me. It is a daily struggle. I never thought I would be raising an "only child." Having come from a large family, surrounded by cousins, other friends with large families, it's a new adventure. So often I find myself thinking "If only we could have one more....it would be easier. I'd be happier."
  
  Divine Mercy Sunday at Mass came the gentle reminder that joy comes from my daily duty. I will be much happier in embracing His Will for me. I'm reaching out for things that *I* think will make me feel better. But really, true joy is recognizing God's hand in my daily life. I need to stop the procrastination and excuses and accept the moment.
  
  I know it doesn't seem like a joyful message, but a weight was truly lifted off my heart and I was at peace. The Lord has truly blessed me. I can find joy at the present, and not at the "what ifs" and "if only".

Thank you, Angela for hosting. I look forward to the other entries.

Christ is risen, Alleluia!
He is risen indeed, Alleluia!"