Look to the Lord

Pray as You Go

Psalms 123: 1-2 “ Unto you I lift up mine eyes O Thou that dwells in the Heavens. Behold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their master and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of their mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God until that He have mercy upon us.”

As we watch the news and hear about atrocities happening around the world, it is difficult to understand why these horrific occurrences come about. We cry out to the Lord to grant us His Divine Mercy and forgive us our sins. That is the greatest act of Love the Lord can bestow upon us! The Lord wants only our Love and our Grace! Turn your eyes upon Jesus in the light of His Glory and Grace.

Lent is a time to examine your relationship with God. Is there a space in your life that God needs to fill? Move away from indifference to allow God to fill the spaces in your life that need fulfillment. Keep these feelings in your heart and turn these feelings into transformation. Pray as you go!

GLORIOUS SPRINGTIME

THE KIND OF WEATHER THAT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL SO HAPPY

It was 80 degrees with clear skies today in New Orleans and you just wanted to be outdoors to enjoy the gorgeous weather. There was a nice breeze so you did not feel hot or sticky as you would in summertime. God could not have created a more perfect day! Poems, stories, and songs try to capture the grandeur of what God has created in this kind of day.

The best part about this type of day is that families gathered for picnics and barbeques along the lakefront. They broke bread together, the adults talked, and the children played. There was music and laughter as everyone was enjoying the beautiful weather. They were so happy to be able to do this after being quarantined for so long and having to wear masks for so long. It was such a joy to gather together freely without having to be masked and enjoy each others company once again.

People were also out in full force in the parks and along the bayous. There were cyclers, joggers, and paddle boaters. Young and old were partaking in all sorts of outdoor activities. It was difficult not to keep the sunroof closed on a day like today! I for one cannot thank God enough for this glorious, energizing weather!

ACTION STEPS:

  1. Plant a devotional garden to the Blessed Mother: first place a statue of the Blessed Mother in your garden, then plant flowers that grow in your area that glorify the Blessed Mother, such as roses, rosemary, marigolds, sweet alyssum, lily of the valley, impatiens, petunias, foxglove, bleeding hearts, hyacinth. Place a garden bench or swing where you can meditate and say your rosary.
  2. Pray the rosary daily!
  3. Keep a Prayer Journal and journal your gratitude to God for all of His blessings in your life as well as your special intentions.

SENSELESS VIOLENCE

CARJACKINGS ARE OUT OF CONTROL IN

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

On March 21, 2022, New Orleanians were shocked and horrified to hear about the murder as the result of a carjacking of 73 year old Linda Frickey. Frickey had just put her things in her car after work and was prepared to return home when 4 teens ran up to her car with intent to carjack her. The 17 year old male of the group pulled Frickey from the driver’s seat, assaulted her, jumped into the car, and sped off into traffic. Frickey was caught up in the vehicle’s seat belt and was drug by the vehicle as it sped off. The force was so great, it tore off one of Frickey’s arms before her body broke loose from the seat belt as the four teens continued to travel at a top speed. Frickey went into shock and bled to death as she was waiting for the EMS vehicle to arrive. Concerned citizens were horrified at the site and rushed to her aid but there was nothing they could do to save her. However, it was because of those witnesses and their videos as well as nearby crime cameras the teens were quickly caught by the New Orleans Police Department. It is because there was so much outrage that the New Orleans District Attorney was quick to respond and will prosecute the teens to the fullest extent of the law. The four girls in the vehicle were fifteen years old but none of them at any time tried to stop the male driver out of concern for the elderly woman they were dragging along the street and the screams they could hear from her agony as she was being drug along the way. There was no compassion shown for that grandmother who was one month away from retirement or the family that has been left behind without her.

This is the most recent horror story of its kind. It’s most unfortunate that there have been far too many other stories related to gun violence or carjackings resulting in death in New Orleans! New Orleanians were outraged to learn that with New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams had allowed far too many felony cases, many of which were violent crimes slip through the cracks. From 2019 – 2022, homicides have increased by 93%, shootings have increased by 220%, carjackings have increased by 450%, and robberies have increased by 74%. As reported by Fox 8, DA Jason Williams addressed the increase in “701 Releases” by his office in a press conference in February 2022. “701 Releases” refers to an article in Louisiana State Criminal Court that gives defendants the right to a speedy trial. It sets a time limit on how long the district attorney must file charges. In most cases, if the DA fails to bring charges, the defendant is released from jail after two months behind bars. If the defendant is already out on bond, in most cases, they are released from their bond obligations after 150 days. The number of “701 Releases” was staggering in 2021 allowing violent offenders to go free to commit more violent crimes as repeat offenders. The 17 year old male in the Frickey carjacking was arrested as an adult in a carjacking as a 15 year old by the prior District Attorney Leon Cannizarro, however, he was released along with the other offenders when DA Jason Williams came into office to repeat the same offense.

My prayers go out to all of the victims of violent crimes, their loved ones, and the citizens of the City of New Orleans who are also victims of these crimes. I pray for the criminals that they find peace in their lives. I pray for the first responders and the criminal justice system that they make the correct decisions for the good of the whole society. I pray for families, that they can foster love and support for each family member demonstrating that love from conception to the grave.

ACTION STEPS:

  1. PRAY THE ROSARY FOR PEACE: http://www.marian.org
  2. PRAY THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET FOR PEACE: www.thedivinemercy.org

WHERE DO YOUR LOYALTIES LIE?

IN A WORLD WHERE MONEY IS A DEMIGOD, DO YOU WORSHIP AT THAT ALTAR?

In Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13 Jesus shows us that money is a worldly power, a law unto itself that acts in the material world but with a spiritual orientation. Power is never neutral and is often personal as reflected in the Bible. Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13 tells us, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon is an ancient terminology for material wealth.

We are bombarded with images of a lifestyle that is unattainable for the majority of individuals unless they go into extreme debt or go into a life of crime to obtain the latest thing an influencer or advertisement is peddling. The hottest must have thing around or you’re just not up to speed with the rest of your crowd! If you think long and hard about what is happening here, people are not really thinking for themselves anymore and they are more afraid to stray from the crowd as an individual. When something is nonsensical, like a pet rock, why buy it? Yet millions of them sold! That’s a small example of following the crowd but it leads into falling away from your faith, sex addiction, gambling, alcohol abuse, and illegal drug consumption to name a few more examples that are plaguing our society today.

When your loyalties lie with money and you become a slave to the almighty dollar, then you will do anything for a dollar. Your conscience will allow you to do things that you could not ordinarily imagine, including committing murder, because you believe that a human life is not as important as the money attached to it at that time. That is why violent crime in the United States has gotten way out of control. The perpetrators value the all mighty dollar higher than human life and are willing to spill blood in the streets because someone else has something they want and think they have the right to take from someone else, even if it means taking a human life to obtain the object of desire. Hollywood glorifies violence and living by the sword all to make insane amounts of money. Music and dance exemplifies thug life all to make insane amounts of money. Athletes are worshiped as heroes and paid insane amounts of money. Drugs flow freely in our streets and in our schools in epidemic proportions. Yet we think we cannot make effective changes against the evils I this world!

We make change in this world with a positive force when we pray together and follow Christ’s teachings. When we use money as a tool and use it as a force for good we can make positive effective changes in the world. When we vote leaders into office who stand strong on crime, will get mental health initiatives passed to help those with mental health issues instead of incarcerating them, and stop putting our economic power behind negative influences, we will begin to see positive influences grow in our society. We have to work together as a cohesive force for GOOD THROUGH FOLLOWING CHRIST!

ACTION STEPS:

  1. Use a Prayer or Mass Journal to record how God has blessed you and how you have worshipped at God’s altar. As you record your prayer requests and your blessings, you will begin to see how God has answered your prayers throughout your life as you read and reflect over your journals.
  2. Become an Ambassador at Dynamic Catholic: http://www.dynamiccatholic.com
  3. Pray the rosary daily.

PARRIS’ MIRACLE

A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE

Revelations 21:27 states, “But nothing unclean shall enter Heaven.”

Parris and I had always been kindred spirits of sorts. He was an extraordinarily intelligent free thinker and I had untreated inattentive ADHD with a vivid imagination in my youth. We were both big picture thinkers who could think outside of the box and were dreamers who could envision all sorts of possibilities. Our spiritual connection ran deep.

Parris was a cocaine user and overdosed one night in the early 1980s. It was 2:00 am when I suddenly awoke thinking my brother, Parris, was sitting on the end of my bed looking at me. The incident startled me but did not frighten me because I knew he was reaching out for help. Not knowing where he was, I reached out to my oldest brother, Charles. When I told him about the visit, he looked rather peculiar because he had received the same visit from Parris at the same time. We instinctively knew it was a cry for help and he had better resources to reach out to in order to get results. Parris recovered from that crisis and lived for many years drug free helping numerous people in different capacities throughout his life.

However, Parris’ miracle occured in January, 1999.

He had been taken to the hospital for a drug overdose once again. Only this time the doctor had actually declared him dead after doing everything they deemed they possibly could do for him in order for him to live. Parris was taken into a hallway of the hospital on a gurney waiting for an orderly to take his remains down to the morgue. It was during that time Parris had his near death experience. He had journeyed into eternity beyond the white lights and was instructed on what he had to do in order to return to his place with our Father in eternity. He suddenly made a loud gasp for air when a nurse passing by realized that Parris was still alive and the doctor resuscitated him back to life. The doctor on duty told my parents that he had never seen a person turn “that BLUE before in his entire career.”

As told to me by Parris, he was instructed to ask forgiveness of those he had wronged and forgive those who had wronged him. Then, he had to make reparations to people he had stolen or borrowed money from. Once those tasks were taken care of, he had to pray for forgiveness from our Father. Since he was under the influence of drugs and died of a heroin overdose, mother made certain that a priest gave him the last rites. He received a full Catholic mass and burial because he needed the prayers. For most of us, we need to go to Purgatory before going to Heaven because we still have some temporal punishment to pay off for our sins as “nothing unclean can enter the presence of God.” Parris died in a state of God’s Grace after fulfilling his mission.

Parris and I had a two hour telephone conversation two weeks before he died that I will never forget. We both spoke from the heart. We were told by the sheriff’s office that Parris died with his big beautiful smile shining brightly because he knew what was waiting for him on the other side. He had completed his assignments and was cleared to spend eternity with our Father as he had been instructed.

That was Parris’ miracle!

MYSTERIOUS & CURIOUS PLACE

NEW ORLEANS MY HOME

By Sallie F. Arnoult

Father of all waters and Mother River have drawn us all to this mysterious and curious place;

We’ve traversed the high seas from many distant lands to come to this strange land we’ve come to call home;

We’ve fought the elements and toiled together side by side in strife and adversity though we’ve survived the centuries;

Our joy, our pain, blood, sweat, and tears flow with Mother River that gives life and takes life in this mysterious and curious place.


Some drawn here in freedom, others delivered enslaved, while others were driven from their homeland, we’ve built this place we call home in spite of our differences.

Intermingling throughout time, commingling our personal histories like weaving a delicate tapestry, 

we’ve woven our differences together in this mysterious and curious place. 

We do not know where we’re going until we know where we have been,

with the ebb and flow of past sins propelling us into the future of this mysterious and curious place.


Bewitched, bewildered, beleaguered, and beguiled as we move through the tapestry of the centuries in this mysterious and curious place.

The foundation we have built upon crumbling beneath our feet and the sea slowly swallowing us up, we tread water as we move forward.  Angry misguided youth ruling the streets as the Lords of Mischief and leaders turning a blind eye.

Mother River will provide for us until the sea swallows up this mysterious and curious place.

LESSONS FROM A HEROIN ADDICTED MAN

BEING HEROIN ADDICTED DID NOT DEFINE HIM AS A PERSON

PARRIS FRANCIS ARNOULT

JUNE 5, 1958 – APRIL 13, 1999

The value of a life is measured by what we contribute to society or pass on to others.

Although my brother, Parris, had all of the same advantages as the rest of the family, was highly intelligent, an incredible student, able to succeed in business, as well as help others get and stay sober, he was ultimately unable to maintain sobriety for himself. At age 40, he died of a lethal drug overdose. His poisons of choice were Cocaine and Heroin, in addition to the lethal combination Speedballs offer. Most of the people in the massive crowd at his funeral had no idea he mainlined drugs. Judging a book by its cover, he was the guy least likely to be a main-lining opiate addict.

There are 5 lessons that can be learned from Parris’ life:

  1. Parris embraced life with a joie de vivre that drew people to him.  Even introverts like myself have to be extroverted when the situation demands it. However, living each day with exuberance is a celebration of life and Parris shared his exuberance with all those who crossed his path.  He had a way of making people feel important in his company.
  2. Parris adored children and valued family.  The thing Parris despised about himself the most was the shame he carried from betraying and hurting his family.  Before he passed from this life, he asked for forgiveness and made reparations to those he hurt.  He truly understood the importance of forgiveness.
  3. Parris recognized that life is full of compromise… you have to be a giver to get anything in life.  You cannot achieve your potential by focusing on handouts from others.  You have to go out and get it yourself because anything worth having is worth working for. Parris also had a very generous heart.
  4. Parris worked diligently, making it look effortless because he worked smartly.  It’s not always necessary to reinvent the wheel.
  5. Education was paramount in Parris’ mind and he was a voracious reader. Parris recognized that an education does not end when the diploma is framed and hung on the wall.  Learning is lifelong because the world is always changing!

KNOW YOUR CORE VALUES

  • What do you care most about?
  • What have you invested the most time, energy, and emotion in?
  • What gives meaning to your life?  What gives direction and purpose to your life?

When you know the answers to these questions, you can bypass any obstacle that presents itself.  Also remember, mistakes and failures are only learning opportunities for obtaining success in the future. Prayer is powerful. Faith can remove so many obstacles in our lives and bring purpose to our being. Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in our lives are the day we are born and the day we learn why we were born.” Parris was a TEACHER and his life has served a tremendous purpose. We loved him dearly and we miss him but we feel his presence in so many ways.

RESOURCES:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA’S NATIONAL HELPLINE: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or www.samhsa.gov for FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, 24/7, 365 day-per-year treatment referral information in English and Spanish for individuals and families facing substance abuse and/or mental health disorders.

MEDLINEplus Health Information on Substance Use Disorders (National Library of Medicine, NIH)

www.medlineplus.gov Trusted health information on drug use, addiction, and mental health disorders from the National Library of Medicine

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Call 800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741. www.afsp.org You’re not alone!

WHO’S REALLY IN CONTROL?

ARE YOU REALLY IN CONTROL OF WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE?

When our lives seem to be most out of control and everything is completely crazy, that’s when we’re most likely to try to control everyone and everything around us in order to get some sense of normalcy in our little world. The problem is not everyone and everything else around us: we’re the problem more than likely and are the one most likely out of control. That’s the time to step back, digest the situation, problem solve where we can, and ask for God’s guidance through prayer and meditation. You cannot continue the same path expecting different results, and we do not have all of the solutions to our own problems so we must seek guidance. There is no shame in asking for help when you do not have the answers. Our Father challenges us so that we seek to become closer to Him and look to Him for answers. The Blessed Mother encourages us to reach out to our Father for help in times of need, when we are deeply troubled, when we are sick, or our lives feel completely out of control.

God has a plan for each of our lives. He gives us free will to make choices, however, when we do not make the right choices, we suffer the consequences. We’re given the choice to travel down the right path and the wrong path. When we choose the right path, our lives go well because we are following God’s call to follow His plan for our lives. The only control we have over our lives is to have self-control, the restraint of not being abusive of other people. In a society that tells you to look out for #1, we need self-control.

SELF-CONTROL

We develop and exhibit self-control to become like Jesus Christ. Self-control is in fact a high form of worship because it is living out God’s commandments and the gifts of the Holy Spirit can be seen in us. To live a full Christian life, you must be disciplined. To be undisciplined, you cannot live a productive life. Productivity and self-control are rewarded by the Lord. The decision to live a life of self-control is ours to make, and God gives each of us the power to make that decision. It is a tribute to Him.

SURVIVAL AS A SOCIETY

If we’re going to survive as a society, we have to regain self-control and become more disciplined. Our mores and boundaries have completely broken down. Our religious beliefs and our way of life are under attack. Social values have gone way outside of the box. As the rules have bent more and more, society has found them to be more and more acceptable. What have we been left with?

  • an opioid epidemic that has made orphans and fosters out of millions of children across the nation
  • left wing socialists calling for the abolishment of capitalism
  • atheists calling for the abolishment of organized religions
  • hatred and fear fueling the flames of ignorance behind divisive racist movements
  • a general lack of civility and a malaise across the nation whereby people no longer behave in a respectful manner towards one and other in public places; then believe they are within their rights to behave so disrespectfully and disgracefully without consequences
  • murder rates and violent crimes have increased dramatically in the US

We have to turn the tide on this colossal disaster by exercising more self-control and discipline by saying no to toxic behavior. In turn, we have to remove toxic influences from our lives (sometimes that includes people). Most importantly, we have to pray and meditate to ask Jesus to become more like Him.

Build a Home Based on Faith, Hope, and Love

The Greatest of These Gifts is Love

Most of our lives are spent moving to a soundscape of music, whether we actually hear it playing or are actively listening to it. Sometimes it is playing in the background and I could not tell you what songs in particular I have heard at any given time. Then comes a moment when I actively listened, and it was in this instance Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” played on the radio:

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance… I hope you dance…

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance,
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’,
Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin’,
Don’t let some Hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance… I hope you dance.
I hope you dance… I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years
And wonder where those years have gone.)….

Written by Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers

With a timeless life-affirming message, this upbeat song is based on the expression of a mother’s deepest wish for her children: they will embrace life with faith, hope, and love.

FAITH

Pistis is the original Greek word used most often to translate the word faith in the Bible meaning to have a firm conviction based upon hearing or to be of a firm persuasion and is used frequently in the New Testament referring always to faith in God , Jesus Christ, or all things spiritual. Pistos, on the other hand, is the active word which lives out pistis. It translates as faithful, faithfully, and faithfulness. God is the source and gold standard of faithfulness (pistos) which He has revealed in His interactions with mankind. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ exemplifies this same kind of faithfulness in the interactions with His followers. The Holy Spirit is present and everready to bring forth this strength of character in you and me so that we too may be relied on to be faithful in all of our relationships under all circumstances.

HOPE

ROMANS 5:3-5

But not only that – we even boast of our afflictions! We know that afflictions makes for endurance, and endurance for tested virtue, and tested virtue for hope. And this hope will not leave us disappointed, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Hope springs from deep within our souls and gives us purpose…. the glory of God.

LOVE

JOHN 14: 21

He who obeys the commandments he has from me is the man who loves me;

and he who loves me will be loved by my Father. I too will love him and reveal myself to him.

When my nephews (who are now in their 20s) were in preschool, they learned a little song:

“Jesus loves me. Yes, I know. For the Bible tells me so,” was part of the tune. A simple but effective message that holds true throughout all time. It’s a universal message that reaches every continent on Earth and has been translated into numerous languages. The greatest rewards in life result from a lifestyle lived in love through the following commitments:

  • to love God with your whole heart, mind, and soul;
  • live a life of actively bringing forth the fruit of love of the Holy Spirit;
  • learn how to love your neighbor as yourself.

The greatest gift that God can give us is His mercy. That is the highest form of love that He has for us! Through His Divine Mercy, God grants us salvation from our sins. To learn more about God’s Divine Mercy, go to https://homesoflife.net/spiritual-care/divine-mercy.

AMEN

A CALL TO VOLUNTEERISM: DO IT WITH KINDNESS

vol/un/teer/ism: (välənˈtirizəm) noun.
the policy or practice of volunteering one’s time or talents for charitable, educational, or other worthwhile activities, especially in one’s community.

THROUGHOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC, VOLUNTEERISM IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH IN THE UNITED STATES, AND US NON-PROFITS ARE REAPING THE ECONOMIC REWARDS!

Non-profits have shifted how services are delivered, volunteers are trained, and how volunteers can safely participate.  Volunteers sense they have participated in something at a time of crisis giving them a feeling of solidarity enabling them to muddle through the often-devastating news delivered routinely by the media and through their own personal losses.

WHAT WOULD MOST COMPEL YOU TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER?

• Personal development?
• Breaking free from negative feelings?
• Social interactions? Feeling of solidarity?
• Learning new skills? Career enhancement?
• Expression of pro-social values?
• Religiosity or spirituality?

Religiosity and spirituality have significant bearing on volunteerism. There is an emphasis on pro-sociality and the benefits of benevolence towards those less fortunate than us. Those who are religious or spiritual tend to volunteer at a higher rate than those who are neither religious nor spiritual in nature.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.

IMPORTANCE & BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING:

• Nurtures an active body and mind
• Combats depression
• Counteracts the effects of anxiety, anger, and stress
• Strengthens self-confidence
• Bestows a sense of purpose
• Generates a sense of fulfillment and belonging
• Creates bonds to new friends
• Improves social and relationship skills
• Can facilitate career advancement by learning valuable skills or gaining career experience in a new field

Kindness:
From the Greek, Chrestotes (khray-stot’-ace), meaning, morally, excellence in character and demeanor; as well as gentleness, goodness, and kindness. Chrestotes sustains an extensive presentation of excellence in conveying gentleness and kindness in all interpersonal relationships, as in the kindness embodied by Christ.

Galatians 5:22
…the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness, and chastity.

ACTION STEPS:

  1. Determine what would compel you to become a volunteer.
  2. Determine what kinds of organizations you may want to volunteer with in your community.
  3. Determine what are your strongest skills you bring to an organization.
  4. Determine how much time you have in your schedule to realistically commit to your volunteer efforts.
  5. Most importantly, do it with Chrestotes in your actions and your attitude!

Bella’s Journey

In Loving Memory 4 February 2011 – 27 February 2021

BLESSED

PSALM 103: 1-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless His holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits;

He pardons all your inequities,

He heals all your ills.

He redeems your life from destruction,

He crowns you with kindness and compassion,

He fills your life with good;

your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Bella was my world… 7 pounds of pure love and affection.  She was a beautiful spirit, accepting of strangers as if she had known them for a lifetime, yet she was fiercely protective of me at all times. Not only my constant companion, but my sweet Bella was also a little angel sent to introduce me to one of the most influential friendships since my father’s death in 2002.

After we have suffered losses in our lives, we often become introspective, looking inward for answers to long held questions.  With a family history of addiction, mental illness, trauma, and psychological abuse, I had many unresolved issues following the death of my father.  In many ways, my father was kind, loving, and generous.  Pops, whom I dearly love, had a gregarious personality and could be great fun to be around. However, if you did not comply with his wishes failing to do what he told you to do, he could be quite indifferent towards you to the extent of being sometimes unfeeling in his attitude and abusive with his words.  That left many scars on me personally resulting in two bouts with cancer since his death.  In 2003, I had Thyroid Cancer resulting in chronic hypothyroidism from a thyroidectomy which fortunately is a manageable situation that I can live with for many years to come.  However, in 2010, there could have been a completely different outcome to my Ovarian Cancer diagnosis.  The tumor I was carrying around grew to be 22 pounds before it was discovered that I had Ovarian Cancer after having complained of the same symptoms to my doctors for over 2 years: bloating; constipation; feeling full quickly at mealtime despite consuming very little food; lower back pain; and pressure in the pelvic area.  My OB/GYN at that time said that my ovaries were “pooping out” and my Endocrinologist saw those symptoms as vague relating to a multitude of health issues.  Ironically, my father would repeatedly say that I would not have treated my brother on drugs with “tough love” the way I did if he had had cancer and neither of them lived to see me go through cancer twice.  Today, I am blessed to say that I am over 10 years clear of Ovarian Cancer, but it was indeed a rough road at first.

The Lord blessed me by sending this little angel into my life on April 2, 2011, on the night of Mom’s 81st birthday.  Bella was an 8-week-old Yorkie weighing only 2 pounds who won our hearts over immediately. She helped me recover from chemotherapy and subsequent abdominal hernia surgery.  Bella has also assisted me to where I am today with generalized anxiety and a major depressive disorder in addition to inattentive ADHD.  Ultimately, Bella would introduce me to one of the most influential people of my life: Mr. Calvin “Cal” Moret.

Mr. Cal, as he would become affectionately known to me in a fatherly way, was a genteel Creole man who lived two doors over from us with his loving wife, Mrs. Berenice.  He frequently worked either in his woodshop on all sorts of projects or in his yard when Bella and I would go out for walks.  Bella would always find him to tell him hello and we would begin conversing.  He was a most interesting man, like a Renaissance man with a host of talents and expertise.  Mr. Cal, in his younger years during World War II, had served as a training officer for the Tuskegee Airmen, an accomplishment that had gone completely unacknowledged until his sunset years when President Obama awarded the Tuskegee Airmen the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2007.  Throughout his life, Mr. Cal perfected his woodworking skills, writing skills, and was a member of a Barbershop Quartet in addition to many select Creole social organizations.  After Katrina had decimated Moret Press, his family business, leaving him feeling much like a shell of his former self, his faith in the Lord and the recognition he received for his service in World War II ignited a new purpose in his life: delivering inspirational talks to students and young professionals on the importance of keeping the focus of God, family, morality, human dignity, and respect in their lives.  My many long conversations with Mr. Cal helped him develop the focus of his talks and he unknowingly aided me in resolving many of the issues I had with my father.  I knew deep down inside that these issues needed to be resolved or they would only continue to be burdensome to me not my father.  When we lost Mr. Cal, I continued to enjoy my friendship with his wife, Mrs. B, until her death this year.  I will always treasure my memories of Mrs. B and Mr. Cal.  Bella will forever be tied to these cherished memories.

Sadly, I had to put Bella to eternal rest on February 27, 2021, because she was going into kidney failure.  She had developed diabetes and Cushing’s Disease of the pituitary gland becoming increasingly sick.  I did not want to see her suffer any longer than she already had, but if love alone could have saved her from what she had already been through, Bella would have never suffered a day in her life.  Mrs. B went into kidney failure from hyperglycemia as well and passed into eternal rest on July 7, 2021.  My relationship with the Mr. and Mrs. Moret went full circle within 130 days of the 3,619 days Bella was such an integral part of my life.  When I lost Bella, I did not know how I was going to move forward.  It is my faith in the Lord, my devotion to the Blessed Mother, and my appreciation for all the gifts He has given me that gets me through each day with courage!  There will be no other Bella, but Bella’s journey has fortified in me that I have an enormous capacity to love and be loved. I feel Bella still watching over me!

COURAGE

DEUTERONOMY 31:6

Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or

dread of them, for it is the Lord, your God, who

marches with you; He will never fail you

or forsake you.

LAGNIAPPE: Greet each day with gratitude in your heart, a smile on your face, and kindness for others.  Live each day enthusiastically, with passion!

RACISM IS PERPETUATED IN AMERICA

FEAR AND HATRED FUEL RACISM

I recently went through the pharmacy pick-up window at my local CVS pharmacy where my mother had her prescriptions filled regularly. On this particular day, there were 5 cars in line, including mine, (for descriptive purposes only) the 4 other cars were inhabited by black people and we were the only white people in line. The young pharmacy technician, who was also black, asked my mothers name and date of birth but the waiting began. She then proceeded to wait on every other car in line, including the car that had been in line behind us. They had gotten agitated and moved to the other line for faster service. When I realized that even the car that had been behind me had been waited on, I drove around to the front and went inside the store. As I approached the pharmacy counter, I excitedly asked, “Am I the wrong skin color to get waited on in the drive-through lane?” The pharmacy manager, a young white male shouted at me, “YOU’RE ACCOSTING ME! YOU’RE RUDE! AND YOU’RE RACIST! THIS CONVERSATION IS OVER! YOU’RE DONE!” In that moment, he would not listen to a word I had to say (not even if it was an apology) and my mother could no longer have prescriptions filled at that particular location. You can get cancelled by standing up for yourself in an instant! What these young people do not understand is that they are perpetuating racism, not eradicating it, and through their vindictiveness, they are spreading hatred along with fear. The type of action that young man took was much like the actions taken under the National Socialist Movement in Nazi Germany. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE IN THE EMPLOY OF CVS PHARMACY! I called and reported this incident to the corporate office when I returned home. I have not heard a single word from the CVS Corporate Office since I notified them of what had transpired. However, when I returned to that same drive- through today, I was notified by the pharmacist my mother could no longer have her prescriptions filled at that particular location. I asked her to kindly have her prescriptions transferred to another location which she politely agreed to and for which I was relieved. I do not want to be a party to that kind of hatred, however benign it may appear on the surface. That young man was so righteous but what he was doing was the wrong thing for what he thought was the right reason. Incidences like these collectively perpetuate racism and divisiveness in America. They will not be eradicated until we all truly understand what racism and division are doing to our society.

I have always been taught that racism is discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of one race by members of another race. Racism cannot be eradicated by laws. However, minds can be changed and do change about individual beliefs of differences among humans based upon skin color and culture through studies of history, language, culture, arts, music and food. Everything in society can and should be used as a teaching moment because we should use historical markers as what should or should not be repeated from history. When we understand where we came from as a community, how our community as a whole developed (including the ugly parts of our history), then we can move toward a more forgiving, harmonious future. Forgiveness includes: 1) asking for forgiveness from the person you have offended; 2) forgiving others for their transgressions against you; and 3) asking for forgiveness from the Heavenly Father for your trespasses. All 3 elements must be present to be truly forgiven. Matthew 6:14-15… “If you forgive the faults of others, your Heavenly Father will forgive you yours. If you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive you.”

ST. ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY:

”During painful times, when you’re feeling a terrible void, think of how God is enlarging the capacity of your Soul so it can receive Him. Look upon each pain as a love token coming directly to you from God in order for you to unite you to Him.”

Then find forgiveness in your heart towards your transgressors so as not to harbor hate and hostility. Pray for your own forgiveness for those you have sinned against. It has been scientifically proven through DNA testing that we all originally descend from one woman. Until 7000 years ago when people began to migrate North, we were all people of color according to genome studies. Because of the climate differences, pigmentation began to lighten in order to absorb the sun through the dense clouds and precipitation. Race and culture are man-made institutions. We have far more in common than that which has been designed politically to divide us. Trust in God’s mercy! Keep praying always…

GROWING IN FAITHFULNESS THROUGH PRAYER & PRAYER JOURNALING

I read on Facebook:

DO YOU PRAY?

I love this interpretation of Prayer. What is Prayer? Prayer doesn’t only happen when we kneel or put our hands together and focus and expect things from God. Thinking positive and wishing good for others is a prayer. When you hug a friend. That’s a prayer. When you cook something to nourish family and friends. That’s a prayer. When we send off our near and dear ones and say, ‘drive safely’ or ‘be safe’. That’s a prayer. When you’re helping someone in need by giving your time and energy. That’s a prayer. When you forgive someone, that is a prayer. Prayer is a vibration. A feeling. A thought. Prayer is the voice of love, friendship, genuine relationships. Prayer is an expression of the silent being. Keep praying always…

I think this is a brilliant reminder that prayer is so much more than a solemn request for help, an expression of thanksgiving, or an expression of praise to the Lord. We are called to honor the Lord through our actions as well.

In Greek, the word “pistos” means to be faithful, trusted, reliable, believing; to be always counted on; of a firm persuasion.

There are many synonyms for faithfulness: adherence, constancy, allegiance, dependability, fealty, duty, fidelity, loyalty, adhesion, piety, ardor, trustworthiness, truth, attachment, care, steadfastness, devotion, tried, reliable, unwavering, resolute, honest, punctual, and steady.

To be faithful is to put your faith into action

Your faith in God is the foundation of your beliefs.  Faith is an ardent belief in God and the assurance that the Lord is working in our lives, even though we have no visible proof that God truly exists.  Through our belief system, we worship Him, we praise Him, and we give Him thanks for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us.  It is through our faith that we believe that all things are possible with God.  When we live in faithfulness to our family, friends, and fellow man, that is an extension of our faithfulness to God.

Colossians 3:23-24

“Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being.  Do it for the Lord rather than for men, since you know full well you will receive an inheritance from Him as your reward.  Be slaves of Christ the Lord.”

Romans 2:6

God “will repay every man for what he has done.”

Galatians 6:9

“Let us not grow weary of doing good; if we do not relax our efforts, in due time we shall reap our harvest.”

ACTION STEPS:

  • PUT TOGETHER A PRAYER JOURNAL

Our relationship with God should not become unnecessarily complicated.  As we journal our prayers and grow in intimacy with God, we can voice our needs and wants freely and openly.  As we become aware that our prayers have been answered, we can record praise and thanks to the Lord. As we read back over our journal, we can see how God is actively working in our lives without us “seeing” His presence in our lives which is the basis of our faith.  We grow in faith and confidence that God is always listening to our prayers.

  • FOCUS ON A SAINT’S LIFE AS INSPIRATION BEFORE YOU BEGIN WRITING YOUR PRAYER JOURNAL
  • FIND A BLANK JOURNAL OR NOTEBOOK TO BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY

Write a letter to yourself on the 1st page explaining why you are embarking on this prayer journal journey.  At the end of each month, reflect on your spiritual growth and progress.  Create an ongoing prayer list whereby you continually pray for the needs of others.  You can be as creative as you want to be and personalize it in your own special way.  God created the world in a glorious multitude of colors with spectacular images so it is only proper that we praise Him in as creative fashion as we are capable of to celebrate His glory.

WHAT IS YOUR CODE OF ETHICS?

WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR BEING FOR YOUR CONSCIENCE TO BE CLEAR AND YOUR HEART TO FEEL FREE TO LOVE?

We all need a code of ethics to act as a compass to guide us through everyday life. We are given free will to choose our own path, to choose right from wrong. It is when we choose right over wrong that we achieve good things in our lives and our lives go well. God has a plan for each of our lives, and when we choose to follow His plan for our lives, right over wrong, our lives work out as they were meant to work out. However, we have much hardship, sorrow, and pain in our lives when we do not follow the path God has planned for our lives.

WHAT DO YOU CARE MOST ABOUT?

I personally care most about my Mother and my family. They are the VIPs in this world in my view. My dog, Bella, fell into this category too because we are the stewards of our pets. They become our family and are dependent upon us for everything they need for their care. God is also paramount in my life. Prayer is part of my daily life, not only the recitation of prayer but also by doing random good deeds for others and spreading joy wherever possible.

WHAT HAVE YOU INVESTED THE MOST TIME, ENERGY, AND EMOTION IN?

Beyond my family, I have invested the most time, energy, and emotion in my volunteer work. I believe that volunteerism in our community is extremely important and that more people should become invested in volunteerism. When you give your time, energy, and emotion to something that strikes a chord with your code of ethics, your guiding principles, you receive so much personal satisfaction in return.

WHAT GIVES MEANING TO YOUR LIFE?

For me personally, it is my faith that gives meaning to my life. I pray for people who do not have faith and choose evil over good. No single race of people throughout history has had a monopoly on pain and suffering. All of mankind, at one point in time or another, has been persecuted for a political or religious belief as well as the color of their skin. There has been so much evil throughout history and is among us today. I pray for protection of the faithful and urge the faithful to pray their rosary daily as our Lady of Fatima has instructed us to do through little Jacinta. According to Saint Jacinta Marto, “If man only knew what eternity is, they would do everything in their power to change their lives.”

WHAT GIVES YOU DIRECTION AND PURPOSE?

My faith and my sense of duty give my life direction and purpose. I am secure in my beliefs and am not shaken by naysayers. I have an honest, straight-forward approach to all aspects of life. If I realize I am in the wrong, I am quick to make it right and apologize for my actions. Never do I try to cover up a wrong doing… I own it, make it right, and make my apologies where they are due. Why? It is the right thing to do. We all make mistakes, and do the wrong things for the right reasons, but that does not make them right. Then, pray for forgiveness. Be the best version of yourself at all times! ####

I Know What it Means to Live in New Orleans and Love It

… this mysterious and curious place along the Mighty Mississippi River, which drew us all here.

When I read the stories I reposted by Our French Oasis, I saw in them the roots of New Orleans culture.  Couple that with Spanish culture and Afro-Caribbean culture, and you have the foundation of our Creole heritage.  Later came Cajun, American, Italian, German, Irish, Jewish, Latino, and other influences.  I do not think others realize it but French, Spanish, and Afro-Carribean languages were spoken here long before English was our native tongue.  English was made the official language after the Americans made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.#cafedumonde

Peoples of African ancestry have made the most profound and lasting influences on our culture.  Initially brought to Louisiana as slaves, there were also Free People of Color of mixed ancestry, known today as Creoles.  Although slavery is a hot button political issue today, it was the foundation for the economic engine that ran our state in the beginning of our existence. They gave their lives for the place we call home.  The women who worked in the plantation homes had a greater influence on the residents of those homes because they reared the children and cooked the meals, much like housekeepers throughout the ages.  These women introduced ingredients from Africa and African dishes to our tables while using native ingredients as well.  Our music was born out of the pain of these people.  Worship is elevated to another level with this music.  Many of the glorious structures around us were built by slaves and their descendants.  Most of the masters of the trades were once of African descent.  Folks would have to move around with blinders on not to see all of the Afro-Carribean influences on the development of New Orleans… this mysterious and curious place along the Mighty Mississippi River, which drew us all here.

Before we were all drawn here, this area was inhabited by Native Americans.   The Mardi Gras Indians were born out of the inter-relationship of these natives and the slaves.  The costumes of the Mardi Gras Indians take a year and many beaders to construct.  Each year these costumes have a different theme and are expertly designed.  They embody the profound and lasting influences people of Native American as well as African ancestry still have on New Orleans today.

#mardigrasworld

Surviving ADDiction

COPING WITH UNTREATED ADHD THROUGHOUT MY BROTHERS ADDICTION

Our minds have a way of forgetting so that our hearts can begin healing.  We sometimes set adrift in our daily lives, going through the motions, smiling with insincerity behind it in place of happiness.  The pain of witnessing the trials of someone you love, who is addicted to heroin, is almost unbearable because you know you cannot save him.  You pray for him, counsel him, and cry for him but none of it changes his life…. or your home life.

When I look back over my life, I realize that one of the most important things I have done for myself was to forgive my brother for overdosing on drugs.  He was charismatic, loving, intelligent, and was extremely handsome.  If you judged this book by its cover, he looked like the least likely guy to die from a drug overdose.  He was my hero as his younger sister.  I idolized and adored him.  Then he became someone I did not recognize, turning into someone who filled me with dread and disappointment.  Ultimately, he became overwrought with shame in spite of doing so many good things with his life and helping so many people get off of drugs.

When you forgive, you open yourself up to endless possibilities, more vast than the ocean.  Your mind becomes free to explore, to live, and to love.  Love begins in the mind before it spreads to the heart.  Addiction can numb your body to love. You have to survive addiction to find love again.  Looking to God will bring you the solace you desire.  His love for us is as vast as the sea!

SERENITY PRAYER

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, the sinful world

As it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make things right

If I surrender to His Will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with Him

Forever and ever in the next.

Amen.

Written by Reinhold Niebuhr 

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Rising Fentanyl Overdoses: A Public Health Crisis

The death toll from fentanyl use in conjunction with other opioids has escalated dramatically, reaching unprecedented levels since the mid-2010s, as the potent synthetic opioid increasingly saturates the market and contributes to a growing public health crisis. Nitrous oxide also became a growing concern as party-goers were ingesting the gas to get high at alarming rates causing increasing overdoses as well. GHB is the club drug preference that can be crushed up and snorted like the old standby cocaine. There’s a laundry list of opioids that continue to plague our streets. No wonder it’s so difficult for addicts to get sober and stay sober! They have to battle the temptations daily of all of the triggers out there in the world that caused them to use in the first place. It’s not just a matter of will power!

SOBRIETY IS A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION

While drug abuse can change the brain, time and treatments can change it too. With the support people need to navigate triggers, relieve withdrawal symptoms, and make healthy lifestyle changes, people can heal from addiction. Researchers have developed therapies to to support recovery, which include safe, effective medications to overcome some opioid substance abuse disorders. When a person reaches the level of addiction, they have lost control over substance use. Just like any other person with a disease, they need to be able to get quality, evidence-based treatment and care. With the help of their family and support system, people with substance abuse disorders have substantially higher chances of recovery and survival.

ADDICTION IS A CHRONIC DISEASE

RESOURCES:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA’S NATIONAL HELPLINE: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or www.samhsa.gov for FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, 24/7, 365 day-per-year treatment referral information in English and Spanish for individuals and families facing substance abuse and/or mental health disorders.

MEDLINEplus Health Information on Substance Use Disorders (National Library of Medicine, NIH)

www.medlineplus.gov Trusted health information on drug use, addiction, and mental health disorders from the National Library of Medicine.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Call 800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741. www.afsp.org