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/