Eph 5:15-17 (Love Until It Hurts) by Jennifer Schmidt

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB).

"Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord." Eph 5:15-17 (full readings)

Jennifer's Reflections: As a cradle Catholic deeply avowed to upholding the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death, I never could have fully contemplated how challenging an 'unwanted pregnancy' would be until my husband and I heard the devastating diagnosis of our own unborn child, learning her short life would be "incompatible with life" outside the womb. After complicated and exhausting discussions with our physicians --including one 'specialist' who demeaned our decision to honor God's will -- we fully surrendered spiritually and emotionally to the graces granted from prayer, hope and our expanded community of faith. We learned first-hand and most painfully that Life is Beautiful, no matter how brief. We are called to celebrate and honor all life, not just lives deemed worthy from secular standards of utility, desirability and convenience. When we surrender to knowing we're upholding God's will, the abundance of grace flows. Intense hurt and a painful sense of loss occur, but the suffering isn't in vain. A sense of abandonment is transformed to a feeling of hope and sense of peace. My husband and I have the privilege of serving other families coping with anticipated infant loss, and some of our insights were published in A Gift of Time: Continuing Your Pregnancy When Your Baby's Life is Expected to Be Brief by Amy Kuebelbeck and Deborah Davis. Today's devotion is in loving memory of our infant daughter, Gianna Marie, held briefly in our arms and forever in our hearts. Two infants received Gianna's life-giving heart valves. Let's pray for all who are mourning an abortion (Project Rachel). May we be loving and compassionate with all who suffer from the loss of a child (http://www.faithslodge.org/).
* Jennifer Schmidt (LIFE Runner) and her husband John have two sons. They counsel couples coping with the hardships of infant loss. Jennifer is a licensed clinical professional counselor and serves as the Counseling Center Assistant Director for Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

Faith Challenge: Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta boldly condemned the poverty of America's tolerance for the abandonment of the most innocent and vulnerable...and challenged us to "find your own Calcutta." We face a 'Calcutta' every time we encounter someone who dismisses the lives of our unborn citizens. Through dialogue, the Culture of Life can continue transforming our secular world. Celebrate the beauty of all life by supporting your local perinatal hospice. Reach out to those mourning the loss of a child.

Counter-Culture News: LifeNews, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life, Live Action
* Love Me Tender, Love Me True in The Leaven): earned the annual National Right to Life Excellence in Journalism award.&gt

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now. >

Feast Day: St. Philip Neri.

Faith Quote: "One cannot love without suffering or suffer without loving." ~ St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Through Christ Our Lord,
Jennifer
Isaiah 49:15
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* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (23% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize:Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.

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