The Rosary

It's been awhile since I sat and prayed the Rosary alone. I've prayed it with our students, our YNIA kids and as a staff. But not alone in the quiet of my own head. I sit and do my readings everyday and I hold the Rosary and pray for those that I am thinking about. But even that has been getting harder. Joe is now up with me every morning and while I try to do my reading and pray he turns on the news. It's not that quiet I need.

Joe is still in bed and I have a long weekend. I started with a cup of tea and checking out social media. It then hit me I have quiet time I don't get much of anymore. I sat with my reading and was able to think. I gathered the Rosary like I do and then realized I have the quiet to actually pray the entire Rosary.

I sit here in the living room with the sun warming my neck and shoulders. I started the Rosary. As I went through I experienced so many different emotions. At first I thought of the need to continue to bring a variety of prayer opportunities to our kids. Then I thought of my children and how we tried with prayer in life but did we do enough. Next I thought of the couples I just saw on Facebook and how I am losing Joe. Last though I felt a sense of peace.

I had a similar experience when Kate was a baby. She was sick and no one knew what was going on. Joe was working a 12 hour shift. I had put Liz to bed but knew she wasn't asleep and Kate just cried and cried. I was at the end of my rope. I lay Kate in her crib and I lay down on the floor next to her. I was beside myself not knowing how to care for my baby. I couldn't handle the crying anymore. I wanted someone else to take over. As I lay there I prayed the Hail Mary over and over. I don't know how long I lay there or how many times I said it. What I do know was I was filled with a sense of peace. I was able to get up, pick up Kate who was still screaming and rock her and sing to her and hold her until she finally calmed down and fell asleep.

Today was not as dramatic. Yet it was still amazing to go through those emotions in a short period of time and to once again realize the power of the Rosary.