Tuesday, May 21, 2019

The Power of Prayer

Good morning out there!
It rained last night. The sun is shining bright this morning and the birds are singing.
Please pray for those who have been affected by the tornados and storms.
I was working on the "Respect Life Corner" information I submit for our parish bulletin
and I found this prayer from Saint John Paul II.


"A great prayer for life is urgently needed,
 a prayer which will rise up throughout the world.
Through special initiatives and in daily prayer,
may an impassioned plea rise to God,
the Creator and lover of life,
from every Christian community,
from every group and association,
 from every family and from the heart of every believer."
  Saint John Paul ll

Saint John Paul II, please pray for us!
Please pray for all babies, born and unborn!
Please pray for families!

Blessings to you and yours!
Bye for now, Sharla

Sunday, May 12, 2019

My First Letter was Published Almost Twenty Years Ago

Hello out there! Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms, grandmothers, aunts, and
Godmothers! I hope your day is full of blessings upon blessings!
As you know, if you've read my blog posts - my stories, I am always trying to find
new ways to share my pro-life - pro-adoption - pro-family message.
Yesterday afternoon I pulled a file out of my file cabinet. The file is labeled,
"Sharla's Articles." I also found a large yellow folder with more of "Sharla's Articles."
My plan has been to put all of my newspaper articles, responses I've received, letters
and what not into a three ring binder. I actually bought a binder quite a while back -
I can't find it now! I will purchase another one. Everything will be in a chronological
order, beginning with my very first letter that was published in our local newspaper.
I spent the afternoon cutting out articles and taping them to notebook paper. I had
several articles that I had laminated last year. I placed everything in chronological
order and began to read the articles. I knew that I had written several items for the
newspaper but it wasn't until I had a stack sitting before me that I fully realized just
how long I have been speaking out. It was really emotional for me to re-read all
of them. I felt the same emotions welling up inside me with each story I wrote. I write
from my heart but I also know what I'm talking about. I do research and double check
statistics, procedures, prices, etc. and everything that goes into my stories.
I was asked to be a Guest Columnist when I submitted my first letter to the newspaper
back in August of 1999, almost twenty years ago. The following is what happened,
that prompted me to write a, "Letter to the Editor."
There was a syndicated political cartoon that was titled, "The pro-life cycle." I still
remember it. I still see it - this won't be exact, but pretty close.
A pregnant woman is trying to go into an abortion facility and a minister/preacher is
standing in front of her. Next picture - the mom has the baby and the pictures portray
the baby growing up to be mean and awful. The last picture is of the baby all grown
up and he kills the minister/preacher. Then he ends up in the electric chair.
The following is my response. It was published on Saturday, August 21, 1999.


Well, that was my first article. George W. Bush was the Governor of Texas then. I
read an article in the newspaper where he talked about making adoption easier, etc.
I sent him a letter thanking him for speaking about adoption. I included a copy of
the above letter I wrote. He wrote back to me and I have a signed letter from him
when he was Governor. It will go behind this article in my notebook. His letter to
me was dated December 21, 1999.
My book will be full of articles I've written, letters and cards I've received.
This notebook will be a reminder that I've never given up and also motivate me
when I wonder if anyone is listening.
Sometimes people will say, "What can I do?"
Write letters, send letters, be a voice for the most vulnerable among us.
That is what you can do!
                                                                            Blessings to you and yours!
                                                                                     Sharla
Oh, by the way I have a website now -


www.sharlaque.com   And yes, there is a story that goes along with the "Que" -
I'll share it in my next post!

Friday, May 3, 2019

Faith, Families, and Fathers

Hello out there! The weather has been up and down today; sometimes cloudy, other
times sunny, and then we had rain and some really booming thunder. Right now it is
a little cloudy and there is a cool breeze in the air.


We go to the noon Mass at our parish on Fridays. The peace I feel when I walk
into the cathedral is amazing. Going to Mass is always a blessing. Today was extra
special. When I walked into the cathedral I could see my husband and our son sitting
side by side. Our son was in town today and he and Jim rode to Mass together. I sat
down next to them and just a few minutes later our daughter, son-in-law, and their
three daughters arrived. Lots of hugs and quiet (kind of) whispers of hello and then
everyone settled down. The two youngest were showing their uncle the toys they had
in their purse. I love it when our children and grandchildren are with us at Mass.
This past Sunday, our son and all five of his children were with us. Sometimes it
is just Jim and I because our daughter and her family go to an earlier Mass and
our son and his family go to a different parish but I love it when we are together.
The point I want to make is how important it is to go to church together as a family.
The following picture is taped to the front of my refrigerator. Look at the picture and
the story that goes with it is below.




Going to our son's First Holy Communion - 1992
We didn't have a cell phone back then (did anyone?) so I had our camera and took this
picture.
I absolutely love this picture - Jim and our children crossing the street to get to our
parish, Sacred Heart Cathedral. I think the reason this picture means so much to me
is because of the symbolism - Jim is leading our family to church - to God.
The following scriptures are from a bible Jim received from his parents as a Christmas
gift the year we were married: Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible
Train a boy in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not swerve from it.
Proverbs 22:6  
(different translation: Teach children how they should live, and they
will remember it all their life.  Holy Bible Catholic Edition)
Fathers, do not anger your children. Bring them up with the training and
instruction befitting the Lord.   
Ephesians 6:4


I received my May issue of the Magnificat and the picture really touched my heart.
It is a beautiful picture of St. Joseph and Jesus as a young child.


Saint Joseph with the Christ Child
Painted by Sebastian Martinez in 1650
Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain

Saint Joseph, pray for us!
Saint Joseph, pray for families!




      
Blessings to you and yours,
Bye for now, Sharla