FORGIVENESS

Three years ago, a friend said something to me that hurt very deeply.  
I was speechless. 
I could not believe she could say that and mean it. 
When I had no response, she said, "I love you and don't want to see you hurt." 
My thought was, 'if you love me, how could you say such a terrible thing about someone I love dearly'.  
But I was still speechless and just couldn't respond.
Days and weeks passed and it still bothered me.
I prayed about it a lot and I thought I had forgiven her, but I couldn't forget. 
Weeks and months went by. 
I didn't dwell on this, but occasionally after my prayers at bedtime, I would think about it and couldn't seem to clear this from my thoughts. 
Therefore, I would have a restless night.
Two years passed and I began to doubt that I had forgiven her.
I decided I would talk to her about it and tell her how much her words had hurt. Before I could talk to her, I wanted to think about what I would say that wouldn't hurt her.
(I'm not really sure she would even remember what she had said to me.)
I prayed about this and asked God to give me the right words to say. After four days of praying about this, I began thinking God wasn't listening to me.
Then suddenly it became clear. God had heard and had answered my prayers. The answer was to say NOTHING. JUST FORGIVE. 
I did -- and a sense of peace came to me. I have had no more restless nights over this.
We all do and say things at time that hurt someone. 
We need forgiveness and we need to be able to forgive. Let us all pray for those who hurt us and ask God to give us the Grace to forgive them. 
Forgiving them gives us relief from our hurt. When we can truly forgive, it allows healing to take place in our spiritual lives.
God knows He has to forgive us a lot.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

THE DARK CANDLE

A man had a little daughter--an only and much beloved child. He lived only for her, she was his life. So when she became ill and her illness resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians, he became like a man possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health.
His best efforts proved fruitless, however, and the child died.
The father was totally irreconcilable. 
He became a bitter recluse, shutting himself away from his many friends, refusing every activity that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self.
Then one night he had a dream. He was in heaven and witnessing a grand pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently endless line past the Great White Throne.
Every white-robed, angelic tot carried a candle. He noticed, however, that one child's candle was not lit. Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl.
Rushing towards her, while the pageant faltered, he seized her in his arms, caressed her tenderly, and asked, "How that is your candle is the only one not lit?" "Father, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out again," she said. Just then he awoke from from his dream.
The lesson was crystal clear, and it's effects were immediate. From that hour on he was no longer a recluse, but mingled freely and cheerfully with his former friends and associates.
No longer would his little darling's candle be extinguished by his useless tears.

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Discovering 21 Century /Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778

Today, just today...

I woke up this morning and knew that today,
The sun would not be shining
and the clouds would be gray..

As I stepped outside,
Rain fell upon my head.
My car wouldn't start
so I walked to school instead.
I forgot all of my assignments
I failed all of my tests..
I dropped my head in disgust
and asked the Lord for one request.

'Lord, why is it that

things won't go my way?'
He gently replied,
'Dear child it is because
you didn't thank me yesterday.
I woke you up and enabled
you to see the sun again.

I gave you shelter,
protected your family, and even let
you make a new friend.
I blessed you far
greater than I ever had before.
But you were too busy
to thank me once more..
You didn't feel sick
because I maintained your health.
You had money in your pocket
because I maintained your wealth.
You had shoes on you feet
and clothes to wear, too.
You had plenty of food to eat,
and what did you do?
You ignored me and went
about your tasks.
But when you wanted something
you never hesitated to ask.
I was there when you needed me
and that wasn't too long ago.
But when things started going your way,
it was me you did not know..
As if that weren't enough,
I provided our favorite luxuries.

This was something I didn't have
to do-they weren't even necessities.
And when it was time to get on your
knees and show your gratitude,
You decided that after such a
fulfilling day, you weren't in the mood.
So I decided to
give you just a little test.
To show you how it would feel
to stop being blessed.'
I began to realize what
the Lord was saying.
And when I got home, I fell
to my knees and started praying.
He said, 'My child, you have
learned and you know I do forgive.
But remember to remember this day
as long as you shall live.
I love filling your life with joy,
and your pain I'll alleviate it.
But just a simple thank you
would show how much you
appreciate it.'
Pass this on to everyone
you pray the Lord will bless.
There are no catches or
rules just this simple test.
How many people to send it to is all in your hands
Have a blessed day from me to you .

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

Joy in my heart

Gracious God, I feel such joy in my heart this day.
Somehow the sun seems brighter, the air clearer, the colors more alive.
It is as if the shadows that have kept me in the forgotten places of life have been swept away.
I pray that your grace will protect my joy so that I taste and smell it with full attention.
When the mighty feelings begin to wane, I pray that joy’s scent will remain, so that no darkness will ever be so black that I cease to believe in the light.
I ask this for the sake of your love.
Amen.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

" Matthew 28:20

"...I am with YOU always…AM WITH YOU ALWAYS..." Matthew 28:20

Little one,
When you wakened this morning, I thought perhaps 
you'd talk to Me and involve Me in your day, 
but you were preoccupied finding something to wear for work. 
When you'd time to spare, I thought we'd have a few moments together, but you got on the phone and started talking to somebody else.
I noticed that before you ate lunch at work, you looked around 
and seemed embarrassed to talk to Me.

Maybe that's why you didn't bow your head and give thanks, 
even though some of your friends did.
Later at home, I waited while you watched television, ate 
dinner, and did paperwork.
At bedtime I guess you were just too tired, because you dropped into bed and fell fast asleep.

Do you know I'm always here for you? 

I love you so much that I wait every day for a prayer,
a thought, or just a chance to speak with you.
The problem as I see it is - it's hard to have a one-sided conversation. Signed, Your Friend, Jesus'. ..." Matthew 28:20
When did you last talk with the Lord? 
Or take time to listen to Him? 
There's never a time when He's not speaking; no room so dark, no lounge so crowded, or no office so busy that He's not there.
Never mistake your insensitivity for His absence. 
Among life's fleeting promises of pleasure is this timeless assurance, '...I am with you always...' (Matt 28:20 NIV).
 Make time for Him today!

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

*~Change Me~*

Dear Lord change not Thy will in my life, Or trial and sorrows to be;

renew my faith and make me strong,
Change not Thy will, change me.
Though teardrops fall when trouble comes, 
Like storms on a rolling sea;
Let Thy beacon guide my ship to port,
Change not the storm, change me.
When Thy Holy Word I don't understand and 
Thy glory I cannot see;
Teach my eyes, give me sight and wisdom,
Change not Thy Word, change me.
If the fruit Thou hast given me to eat, Taste bitter and sour, I plea;
 Let not my will but Thy be done, Change not the fruit, change me.

If sometime I murmur and grumble, dear Lord, 
about the cross I carry for Thee; 
Keep it firm on my shoulders, but hold my hand,
Change not the cross, change me.
If You change Thy ways to please me, dear Lord, 
I would soon grow cold and turn from Thee; 
That You may hear my prayers, dear Lord, 
Change not Thy ways, and change me.
There's a valley that I must cross, 
Someday Thy face to see; 
Lest I forget what power is Thane, 
Change not the valley, change me.
~ Author Unknown~

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

DADDY'S EMPTY CHAIR

A man's daughter had asked the local Priest  to come and pray with her father. 
When the Priest arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. 
An empty chair sat beside his bed. 
The Priest assumed that the old fellow had been informed 
of his visit. 
"I guess you were expecting me”, said the Priest.
'No, who are you?" said the father. 
The Priest told him his name and then remarked, "I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up." 
"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?"
Puzzled, the Priest shut the door. 
"I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. 
"But all of my life I have! Never known how to pray. 
At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head." I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued," 
Until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me: "Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus….Here is what I suggest: "Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. 
It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'. 
"Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now." "So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though. 
If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm." 
The Priest was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. 
Then he prayed with him, anointed him with Holy oil, and returned to the church. 
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the Priest that her daddy had died that afternoon. 
Did he die in peace?" he asked. 
Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek! 
 When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him. 
But there was something strange about his death. 
Apparently, just before my Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. 
What do you make of that?" 
The Priest wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that." 
Prayer is Powerful
I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.
I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden. 
I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of YOU... 
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. 
Happy moments, praise God. 
Difficult moments, seek God. 
Quiet moments, worship God. 
Painful moments, trust God. 
Every moment, thank God.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/