tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post5782987778134689405..comments2023-08-10T08:24:08.460-06:00Comments on Mama Needs Coffee: Sarah and the SaintsJennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07923751596148085363noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-57572151334161073352014-08-18T22:54:41.957-06:002014-08-18T22:54:41.957-06:00Hi, Jenny. I'm a bit late with this comment, ...Hi, Jenny. I'm a bit late with this comment, but I just found this post. I lost my dearest and best friend this Spring, somewhat suddenly, at the age of 38. She left behind a devoted husband and 3 young children. I have ached for them, which compounds my own grief. I was recently talking to someone about my pain for her family and she gave me some advice that was so simple, and yet so profound. It has eased my pain for them, though they remain firmly in my heart and prayers. Her words were so powerful I remember them verbatim: "Don't ever take on anyone else's grief because you haven't been given the Graces that they have been given." While I still pray for the comfort of their hearts, it has given me some peace to recall that God is pouring His Grace into their hearts.<br />Also, I wholeheartedly agree with the main point of your post. Courtney is at the tippy top of my list of intercessors for all of my struggles. I even had a dream about her in which we were reunited... somewhere... and I asked her to pray for me. She smiled and said, "OF COURSE I've been praying for you!" She went on to tell me that she knew all of my crosses and had already been praying for me. That dream was such a gift. I honestly feel just as close to her in her death as I did in her life. So much so that when I go to Adoration, I ask her to sit with me and pray with me. Praise God for the Communion of Saints!!Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03484090684438335723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-88695430346628835532014-08-07T10:22:50.766-06:002014-08-07T10:22:50.766-06:00Thank you for the reminder!Thank you for the reminder!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-80025931258272398772014-08-07T10:22:14.968-06:002014-08-07T10:22:14.968-06:00I lost my cousin a couple years ago and my family ...I lost my cousin a couple years ago and my family is still struggling with his death. It dawned on me recently... why am I not asking him to pray for us?! Our loved ones really do know what we need most. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-48073950135558709942014-08-07T09:39:18.226-06:002014-08-07T09:39:18.226-06:00Jenny, your words are very beautiful and full of t...Jenny, your words are very beautiful and full of truth. In the past week and half, we have been loaded with grief and confusion over our sister's loss. What you have written speaks to the heart of what is helping us to overcome these hurdles. Already we have heard of amazing stories that many have praying for Sarah's intercession. I truly believe she is heaven now, and that she is with our Lord and his Mother, in company with the Communion of Saints. It pains me to say this, but she is closer to me now than she was on earth. We are still growing as brother and sister. <br />Thank you, <br />Tomtomschulztehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17608873308973765349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-5229856104440641862014-08-07T05:22:19.421-06:002014-08-07T05:22:19.421-06:00Just beautiful, Jenny. At 66 ( one of your sen...Just beautiful, Jenny. At 66 ( one of your senior fans) am attending more funerals as the years pass. Don't know how those<br />without a strong faith deal with their sorrow. Thank you for reminding of the gift of the Communion of Saints. God bless. Ceciliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590223919516475850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-68847165536880701532014-08-06T20:06:35.988-06:002014-08-06T20:06:35.988-06:00Thank you for this. I can't get her story out ...Thank you for this. I can't get her story out of my mind. But this is a healthy dose of catholic truth to help bring a bit of peace to all the sorrow and confusion. We certainly will never understand why all this happens, but that doesn't mean we can't find God's peace despite it. I hope she's praying for us all, and I know her prayers are surrounding her sweet family. Mary Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15298644122392546399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-1529141832569633532014-08-06T14:58:09.329-06:002014-08-06T14:58:09.329-06:00I knew Sarah and her family personally. I met he...I knew Sarah and her family personally. I met her husband and three of her four kids. I met her in a Manna for Mother's Group at our church, St. Ignatius in Hickory, MD. When we met she was living at her inlaws in Bel Air, MD. I visited her there and she came to our house. She showed me a little on how she made her rosary blocks and I purchase three of them. I met her oldest son and she had her daughter about one month after I had my second son. Then when they moved to their first house, my family went to visit their's. She came back to Bel Air for a visit and she had her third child with her and no other members of the Manna for Mom's could meet for dinner but my husband and I were going out so I invited her to come with us. That was the last time I saw her. About three years ago. But I had been communicating with her on Facebook. I miss her a lot! Such a shock to hear this sad news! Before her death in Facebook she said she was finding out the sex on her fifth child and I guessed boy and was wrong. Then she asked for girl names. <br /><br />I feel so bad for her husband and kids and her family too. I pray for all of them during this tough time. <br /><br />I definitely will pray to Sarah to help me be a better wife and mother. <br /><br />Kathleen Hawk<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232005430767434138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-78293854395163241352014-08-06T13:52:39.372-06:002014-08-06T13:52:39.372-06:00Thank you for this hopeful perspective Jenny. Bea...Thank you for this hopeful perspective Jenny. Beautifully written.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15610121502755552238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-29221035569214060402014-08-06T13:41:01.616-06:002014-08-06T13:41:01.616-06:00You so perfectly said what so many of us have been...You so perfectly said what so many of us have been thinking. Her death has shaken me up, too, and it's so sad and scary. But I too believe in the communion of saints. Bonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01805401564651493025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-60793423600511412962014-08-06T13:11:07.070-06:002014-08-06T13:11:07.070-06:00Beautiful post. Two weeks ago, my sister gave bir...Beautiful post. Two weeks ago, my sister gave birth to her oldest son at 38 weeks and he was stillborn. There haven't been words invented yet to describe the heartache we feel at the loss of our nephew, but to even consider having lost my sister as well?! Unthinkable. I love the idea of praying to her for her intercession regarding her family and regarding our own lives as mothers. I know that my nephew is in that great Communion of Saints and will be a guardian for my children and any future siblings he may have. Thank you for writing this.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11007409103382149591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-58679279362755513072014-08-06T11:43:31.194-06:002014-08-06T11:43:31.194-06:00So good Jenny. I keep thinking about her again and...So good Jenny. I keep thinking about her again and again and it really is heart wrenching. I'm fairly certain she is in the presence of God doing wonderful things for her children already. But I have tears just thinking of her.Christy from fountains of homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11130888193737436970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-90645515297158869002014-08-06T06:09:59.737-06:002014-08-06T06:09:59.737-06:00This is a beautiful tribute. I think this story r...This is a beautiful tribute. I think this story resonates, because that could be any of us playing with our kids and then to have disaster strike. Her family is in my prayers!Loveisneverdefeatedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00054362615983207023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-398794362454511022014-08-06T05:57:51.919-06:002014-08-06T05:57:51.919-06:00Wow Jenny. Just wow. Thank you for this perspectiv...Wow Jenny. Just wow. Thank you for this perspective.Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974183600428735879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-87408144336079136582014-08-05T21:32:21.227-06:002014-08-05T21:32:21.227-06:00I remember reading that comment. That post is stil...I remember reading that comment. That post is still my favorite post of all time and I think I read the comments over and over again. I ache for her family and love your suggestion of praying for her intercession.Kaitlin @ More Like Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02260649249438520187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-89427691378340050112014-08-05T20:58:39.385-06:002014-08-05T20:58:39.385-06:00I am so sorry for your loss, Laura. The love that ...I am so sorry for your loss, Laura. The love that she inspired in her friends and family makes me wish I'd had the chance to know her.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07923751596148085363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-17626120327372660112014-08-05T20:47:53.294-06:002014-08-05T20:47:53.294-06:00Jenny, same. I also deal with anger and depressio...Jenny, same. I also deal with anger and depression over events like this. I need to remember to pray to these mothers. The Appalling Strangeness of the Mercy of God is a book about a mother who also inspires me.<br />Hang in there. Knowing there are moms like you for me to relate to helps so much.<br />Love,<br />KarenKaren Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09378079407677569042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-87368879196631493412014-08-05T20:44:37.636-06:002014-08-05T20:44:37.636-06:00Sarah was my friend and household sister at fus, t...Sarah was my friend and household sister at fus, this has been hard on all of us. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insight. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602172804527671966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-88587720354787592702014-08-05T20:15:08.437-06:002014-08-05T20:15:08.437-06:00That was one of the most beautiful blog entries I ...That was one of the most beautiful blog entries I have read. Very beautiful. I will be pondering this for awhile.Jason and Katie Rinkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00187696707536281082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-53939994452015348452014-08-05T19:58:15.134-06:002014-08-05T19:58:15.134-06:00Beautiful, Jenny.Beautiful, Jenny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-28902128581162896512014-08-05T18:57:44.888-06:002014-08-05T18:57:44.888-06:00Beautiful. I will be asking her intercession also,...Beautiful. I will be asking her intercession also, as well as praying for her soul and for her poor family. <br /><br />Recently an acquaintance lost their 2 year old son. He was literally a week younger than our oldest. That loss really hit home for me. It was one of the worst times for me with the twins and life was just so hard; that little boy's death both put things in perspective and also shook up my awareness of our day-to-day life. Hard sometimes, yes, but so very easy to take our blessings for granted. Rosemaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699055172049185864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-47478660426815288642014-08-05T18:03:39.822-06:002014-08-05T18:03:39.822-06:00Sarah's death shook me badly, too. This summer...Sarah's death shook me badly, too. This summer has been full of that Heavenly shaking. At the beginning of summer, we had two friends lose babies - full-term - at birth. A week later, two priest friends of ours were attacked in their own home, one brutally murdered and the other beaten terribly. Then my grandfather passed. And now Sarah. <br /><br />I'm not sure what Our Lord is telling me, other than, treasure this, Melanie. Stop fumbling your way toward bedtime in an exhausted heap of bad mood, and begin to treasure what I have so wonderfully and carefully picked to gift you and entrust you with. These moments will not last.<br /><br />And you know what? That scares the, literally, hell out of me. This and probably the intercession of those same souls whose lives so greatly impacted my own, if only through the suddenness of their deaths.<br /><br />Praying for you to overcome this anxiety...and that I will, as well!The JP Behnkeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01060112775583664606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-62873247431443446962014-08-05T17:17:20.707-06:002014-08-05T17:17:20.707-06:00Beautifully written. Beautifully written. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17079046874308527129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-89897360605096843112014-08-05T16:40:30.387-06:002014-08-05T16:40:30.387-06:00I can relate perfectly as I didn't know her bu... I can relate perfectly as I didn't know her but I feel connected to her somehow. I too grieved her loss as if I had known her and began praying to her shortly after her death! I feel like she will certaintly intercede to God to help me be a better wife and mother since she knows the daily struggles I face. Ever since her death I find myself being grateful for the screaming baby I am trying to put down for a nap because I am alive to raise him. This is a powerful and beautifully written post. Thank you so much for for writing it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03870161141461508882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669762298855511295.post-49852256511230060582014-08-05T16:28:30.741-06:002014-08-05T16:28:30.741-06:00This story has shaken many mothers, myself include...This story has shaken many mothers, myself included. Thanks for sharing this perspective. Anneryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04954066811992919236noreply@blogger.com