Last night I experienced a victory in this long, arduous battle against the enemies attack. With the help of fellow survivors of abuse we met with my local parish’s social justice committee and got the approval to move forward with establishing a Maria Goretti Network at St. Martha’s in Kingwood, Texas. I do find it imperative that the organization I am the ‘face and voice for’ is established at my home parish. 🙂 The deacon who heads up our social justice committee made the comment that tends to both excite me and run a train of shivers through my spine, he said, “You do realize you are opening a big valve here?”
Ah, yes, yes I do. In that moment I thought of all the ways I ‘battle’ when I get an inch closer to helping in releasing victims from shame. That same evening I led our first class of our Catholics Returning Home program that is also our 8th session in 3 years. There is no better joy than to welcome in fellow Christian brothers and sisters and share with them His love and our Catholic faith.
Releasing victims from shame….bringing people closer to Christ… yes, the battle is on.
So it’s not surprising that today I spent most of the time in a Nuerologist’s office with my husband who has Multiple Sclerosis (into the 3rd year since diagnosis) and listened to the doctor explain that he is not happy with the new symptom Neal is feeling or the weakness in his left leg. So Neal will be going in for an MRI to see if any new lesions have formed in his brain and once we get those results the doctor will decide if he has to go on the IV steroids. Why is this a battle? If you are interested in reading past blogs in regards to dealing with Neal and his MS go to the archives and search in April, that was his last ‘relapse’…one year ago. We were hoping not to go through this again for at least 5-10 years!!! Ugh.
I won’t get ahead of myself. I won’t take the bait and fall into pessimism and pitiness. It’s poor Neal that has to suffer the true brunt of this!!
I simply like to ask that you say a prayer of thanksgiving for what we have accomplished with MGN and St. Martha’s and then say a prayer for Neal that he does NOT have any new lesions and that this is something simply handled and not a relapse. And if it is a relapse, pray that we continue to move forward with renewed energy with the grace and mercy of God’s hand.
Blessings to you all!
Shannon