Umm, it’s time again to write my column for the new edition of The Beacon, and Steve has asked me twice, but I cannot bring myself to write. Remember the adult problems I wrote about the last edition.
Yea, so many of them, but actually they were not the only reasons for the delay, I was also finding it difficult to pick on a topic. I have so many issues I want us to look at and I wanted to move away from a faith based topic, I felt I might be boring you, my readers with this “concept”.
Early this Wednesday morning, sitting in front of my television and just tuning to TBN, a Christian television station, I came across the story of a young couple who exhibited true faith in the way they handled the issue of their little baby boy, Elliot. An amazing faith I would say and I asked myself if I could keep this to myself. No, I said.
I was deeply touched by this story and I know it could help someone out there.
The couple, expecting their first child, on one of their visit to the doctor after a scan were told they were likely to have a still born, but even if they had the baby alive he would suffer a serious brain damage and may not live more than three months before they will lose him. Elliot’s parents had great faith in God, so they started praying to God fervently with the belief that their prayer would be answered and they were ready to work along with Him on this journey.
God had their prayer, Elliot was born with the breath of life but truly having a damaged brain and had to live on life support. The parents were very happy God answered their prayer, the doctors were convinced it was a miracle and believed Elliot could only survive a few days so they kept him in the hospital. Elliot’s father believed his boy would live more than that and he would live a fulfilled life. Elliot lived 99 days on this planet and his father kept a diary of their activities together. They started the journey of faith and Elliot played his part to the glory of God.
Elliot was able to celebrate five birthdays in his lifetime. Traditionally we celebrate birthdays annually, but Elliot’s parents knowing fully well that their son might not have that opportunity decided to let him live his “short” life to the full. And who says we cannot do so. In reality and as a Christian that is how we have to see life, because seeing another day of our life is a miracle. To God be the glory. Alleluia.
Elliot had pictures that are evidence of his visit to this planet.
If you know that this world is not our own then you will appreciate that you are only holding an extended visa which affords you a longer stay.
Elliot achieved things that could be celebrated as victory over the devil. He lived beyond the days doctor said he could, left the hospital for home after one month. At two months he sucked his finger, though with visible difficulty, because all his fingers but the thumb were wedged. This was evidence of some coordination and a reflex action which shows his brain could develop but at a very slow rate. Note that this great event in the life of Elliot could have passed unnoticed if his mum and dad were busy; brooding over their situation or quarrelling and fighting each other.
Elliot’s parents passed through the supposed “days of torment” in joy focusing on what God can do with the life of their son. They still saw him as a bundle of joy. They allowed God to manifest Himself in the life of their little boy accepting their faith and allowing themselves and other people around them to experience God’s glory even in their circumstance. These two are very young couple with so much to expect from life.
Is it possible for us to have the kind of faith Elliot’s parents had, the kind Mary mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour had. They lived through painful situations not allowing themselves to feel the pain but rather focusing on what God can do. In times of depression, anxiety and hopelessness let us put our faith in Him, the God of possibilities and we will surely become conquerors. Winners in Christ. Amen.
I have been thinking a great deal about my experience at Reconciliation this past Saturday. I felt an intense and unexplainable urge to go and confess my sins when I woke up that morning. I try to go every six weeks or so, but this was no routine visit to the priest for me. I needed to unburden myself of the numerous venial sins I had committed since I last participated in this Sacrament.
Purest Gold: God's Refining Fire in our Lives »
After salvation, many young Christians wonder if there's anything more to their newfound faith than just the security blanket of "being a Christian." Time and time again, God shows himself as a "refiner," and our lives are as gold. God started leading me in this study to understand what He was doing in my life, as well as in the lives of others.
Picking up my pen to write this column, I couldn’t imagine how time flies. Since the last publication of this column I have gone through a lot, especially the loss of my dear mother to whom I dedicate this article. Not only her, but seems I lost a whole generation of my close family.
How to Achieve Business Excellence »
“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before Kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” Proverbs 22:29
Spiritual Development for our Youth »
Most of us youth in today's fast moving world are easily thrown off by difficulties and worries.
The theme of conversion is a thread that runs all through Lent, but conversion takes on different aspects throughout the phases of Lent. The first two and a half weeks focused on the interior turning of hearts; the liturgy urges the faithful to reflect and examine consciences thoroughly.
Saint Josephine Bakhita »
Feast Day: February 8
Patron Saint Of: Sudan
Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering.
Catholics Must Fast More Intensely This Lent»
The Norbertine Canons of St. Michael's Abbey have created this digital Lenten retreat so that you can journey through this holy season alongside them. If you want to have one of your best Lenten seasons yet, join us in our Lenten Program "The Great Fast" - https://theabbotscircle.com/the-great-fast-join
When Your Faith Is Put to the Test - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon»
Friends, we come now to the Second Sunday of Lent, and we’re on both dangerous and very holy ground with the first reading from the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. The ancient Israelites referred to it as the “Akedah,” which means the “binding”: Abraham binds and is ready to sacrifice Isaac at God’s command.
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