Summer, This

Sea BreezesWhere have I been? I asked myself that a moment ago as I realized I have not blogged in almost a month. I think back over the last weeks and realize I must have been, on what I call, beach brain. As a teacher, I get it in the summer after nine months of academic over stimulation of my own brain and attempting to stimulate the brains of teenagers. Daughter Katie loves summer like I do and just lives at the pool and plays. I have played a lot this summer. My puppy, Pippin, and I have done a lot of hanging out together and playing. Harold and I have played. The beach and I have danced in the summer sun. I have visited both sets of grand babies and enjoyed their laughter and love. I have joined dear friends on Sapelo Island and basked in the salt air and relaxed in the icy pool. I have spent countless hours in many pools watching grandchildren throw themselves off the pool sides and watching the prism of water catch the sunlight and stain a memory in my heart. I have turned 60.My husband turns 60 tomorrow. A youngest grandson turned 2. An oldest granddaughter turns 10 on Tuesday. We celebrated 38 years of marriage. Our daughter celebrated 8 years of marriage. All this in one summer. One thing has lasted all summer that won't go away with the school year starting. Tonya is still battling cancer. None of the sunlight of summer will take that battle away. I think we all who know and love her have discovered a new relationship with our Creator. I have never prayed so much or so hard in all my 60 years. I have learned the true meaning of "walk with Christ" as I have seen her walk into this battle with a "bring it on" attitude. As I write, I cannot linger on the pain or suffering she experiences each day from the poisons that are poured into her body. She doesn't complain much. She smiles a lot and we all call her an inspiration. She doesn't think she is an inspiration at all, she would tell you she is only a wife and mother trying to live for her husband and children. I have found a new beauty in life, a new color, if you will. I will call the color, courage, as it seems to be a mix of pure white, clear and all the colors in the rainbow. One day, Tonya saw a double rainbow and it followed her as she drove. She took it as a sign that God is watching out for her and that she will live to see her children walk as adults.

Tonya wears this color, courage. Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God is her strength, she would tell you this in a heartbeat. What am I doing with my life that lets His love shine through me? My body is not being shot through with poisons, yet, I complain and some days I am afraid of just what life brings to the day. Some days, I am filled with worry and weakness. Tonya's wearing of the color courage is indeed calling me to reexamine my own walk with this Son of the Living God who I call myself His disciple.

This brings me back to The Breastplate of St. Patrick. I think this says it all for us who call ourselves Christians. I took the summer to refresh and renew, but in my refreshing and renewing, I think I forgot the source of my life. Please read this carefully and prayerfully. Dear Tonya, in your smiles in the midst of your battle, in the presence of your joyful laughter and your smiles even when you are tired or in pain, I thank God that you are in my life and know that I love you. I pray this Breastplate of St. Patrick and petition our Lord to heal you.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through the belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,

Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,

Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,

Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,

In obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In prayers of patriarchs,

In predictions of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to save me

From snares of devils,

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness,

Of the Creator of Creation.