Tag: Easter

Gethsemane Gardens

In my mind, I have been desperately trying to stay the course, the narrow way. Students when you are looking at memento mori, All things will die, it puts your life in a positive perspective.

Last year at Easter I was in the hospital fighting for my life. Two weeks ago my husband was at Vanderbilt fighting for his life. Four days into his stay at the hospital our youngest granddaughter was rushed to Le bonheur. Both are now home. God’s mercy has rained down once again on the Alley family.

My husband is one of the most honorable men I have ever met. I think in some ways he is a saint for putting up with me. He is also very stubborn. His pulmonologist wanted him to go to the emergency room because his oxygen levels dipped into the 40s as he slept. Remember I said he is very stubborn so he bargained for one more night before going to the emergency room in Nashville. That night was like a night in the garden of Gethsemane for my son and me. He watched till 3 AM and I watched you until 6 AM. Each time he would go into the low numbers we would stir him. Then the next day my son drove him to Nashville to Vanderbilt. My son told me that we almost lost him on the way and he had to continually keep him awake. When he reached the ER his CO2 levels were 100%. The normal level is in the twenties. In the year 2009 they told my husband he had 2 years left on these lungs. With much love and sacrifice from family and friends, the hands and feet of God, have pulled us back out and given us more time together. We know we will die one day. We totally accept that. But students also understand that we are created of flesh and spirit. The spiritual world is a mystery but we are part of it. As our earthly life ends, our spiritual birth will begin. My husband and I know that there is more. Thanks be to God. Our bodies will return to the Earth but our spirits will soar.

Life is more limited for him but he is still here for a time as we all are. Students, our work is not over until all know the truth. The closer I get to heaven the more I feel. Last night I was able to go to Holy Thursday service. I was tired but I stayed the course and I am so glad. I was able to witness 13 young young boys and girls take their 1st communion. As the priest washed their feet just like the disciples that fateful night I wept with happiness. Watching all of the parents and the children built up hope within me that others want to take care of the treasures on this Earth, especially the children. Although this world is upside down there is still a light of Christ that will shine until the very end of time on Earth.

Yesterday I was also blessed to go around my little town square. Every shop I visited and every car that passed was filled with good greetings and love as my Goddaughter and I were getting silent auction gifts to raise money for the local YMCA. God was filling my heart with love that I had thought was leaving our little community. Every word, every conversation, spoke of a greater Love. It gave me hope.

Last Thursday night was the night in the garden of Gethsemane. As we left the church in silence following the Eucharist, I was challenged with my own dark night. Thinking about all of the hurts in all of our families and all of the tragedy of the world. Friends with cancer and friends with strokes received many prayers. I did not sleep much last night. As I awoke Friday morning, I gave thanks to God for one more day. It was indeed a Good Friday. Students find somewhere to celebrate Christ this Sunday; it’s homework!

Sarah Anderson Alley
Sal the Triduum loving Gal

Quotes of the Day:
“Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.“ — Fulton J. Sheen

“What Our Lord did say on the cross was to forgive. Forgive your Pilates, who are too weak to defend your justice; forgive your Herods, who are too sensual to perceive your spirituality; forgive your Judases, who think worth is to be measured in terms of silver.”
Venerable Fulton J. Sheen

“The virtue of hope lies not in the future of time, but beyond the tomb in eternity; its object is not the abundant life of earth, but the eternal love of God.” -Venerable Fulton J. Sheen

He is Risen!

Wow! Easter is here! Yesterday was full of celebrating as a family. Each holiday when our family comes together it is a day of love and fellowship. I love these days. Easter has always been special day for our family. We have always gathered to share a meal and to have a big Easter egg hunt for the children. Each generation growing older and a new generation is being born. It warms my heart because students this is what life is about. It is about sharing time and meals with each other. Sharing the bond of kinship. Looking at the DNA as it flows into the future. It is so good to have a loving family. It is a treasure. It is a gift from above.
Last night we attended the Easter vigil. It was beautiful. We had many added to our flock. It felt so good to literally watch The light of Christ grow. The Alley pew is becoming crowded. For this I am so grateful. I was able to journey alongside with the neophytes and sponsor to special daughters: Carlin and Kerrie. Presenting them my voice quivered with happiness. Listening to my daughter sing in the choir loft helped the tears to flow. Tears of happiness. My cup continues to overflow more and more with each season passing.
There were so many happy moments yesterday I can’t tell you all of them. My mother holding my grandson and his reaction to her was miraculous. Our little George is still waking to his new world at 2 months old. When placed on my eighty-year-old mother’s lap, he came alive singing and talking to her. I thank God for moments like this. These are the little pieces of light He puts into my life. You see she has Alzheimer’s, but the spirit of God is stronger. It gives us these little twinkles. Watching the children squeal and hunt for Easter eggs was so endearing. To watch my nieces, nephews, and children lead their children along the bunny

as they once did themselves made me so, so happy. Let’s not forget about the great food either. My sweet son Ben helped me to enjoy the barbecue with all the trimmings. My grand girls proudly hanging with their Gram. They love me contraptions and all. These are just a few of the many, many blessings of the day.

Students I promised 40 days of blogs and as my mother taught me you have to follow through. Lent has ceased but Easter reigns. Our celebrations have just only begun. They will continue on in Easter fashion until the Ascension of our Lord which is 39 days after Easter. So back row, I will get the 40 days was Sal completed! Remember also Easter is to be celebrated every day of your life. Our homework today is to rejoice in this day that our Lord has made! Happy, Happy Easter!
Sal the Easter loving Gal
Sarah Anderson Alley
Quotes of the day:
 Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.
Saint Pope John Paul II
“No matter how scared or sinful I am, I am continually called. I look up at Jesus, and I tremble. This Man is much too Good for me. His promises are too Good. And I am much too bad. But still He points to His Wounds and says, “For you.” Still He holds out His Hand, wounded for my greed, and invites me in. To a simple life. To a life where He is my Love and I am His Beloved. He calls me, and I cannot resist forever. He is much too Good for me and Good to me, to the point of tears. But He created my heart for Him. And I cannot resist forever.”
Abbey Alley

Triduum

Here we are students at Holy Week! Tomorrow we’ll begin our most sacred days of the year: The Triduum(Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday.) I really love how our church walks the path that was created with the death of our savior. Tomorrow as we go to church we will relive The Last Supper. We listen as disciples promise to be loyal but fall short. Good Friday is celebrated alongside all other Christians. It is a holiday celebrated around the world. It is celebrating the crucifixion. I can’t imagine being at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified. It always brings tears to my eyes. Saturday is our Easter vigil. It starts at sundown in the dark. We are searching for the light of Christ. We proceeded into the dark church faithfully awaiting the light of Christ. This is when baptisms take place and new parishioners are added to our number. Those who have come to the faith through the rites of Christian initiation. It is so beautiful.
This Lent we have worked so very hard to become better Christians. We want to be better people. We don’t want it to end with Easter. Guess what students? It doesn’t have to end. We are called to grow every year. We are to get stronger in our faith. This may be a beginning for some of you but I ask you to open yourself up to whatever God is calling you to do. It may be simple like overlooking a slight given it to you by someone who was supposed to be your friend. It may be that you are to be more serious about your faith and get involved with church life. Start each day with a prayer asking God to use you. I did this long ago and boy am I ever busy. Try it.
Students have you ever noticed how busy each spring is? We have a new group about to graduate from high school. We have a new group about to graduate from college. We have children signing up to begin kindergarten next fall. We have flowers blooming and trees surging to life. The warm days begging us to come outside and forget all the things that need tied up at the end of the school year. Just like the song, “I think to myself, What a Wonderful World” and I do. In spring there is so much living to do and we feel it in our bones. Thanks be to God for Spring, Easter, and New Life. Yes you have homework. Try to attend a Good Friday service and also an Easter service. Find your place and begin your work!
Sal the Triduum Loving Gal
Sarah Anderson Alley
Quotes of the day:
“Let every man and woman count himself immortal. Let him catch the revelation of Jesus in his resurrection. Let him say not merely, ‘Christ is risen,’ but ‘I shall rise.”
Phillips Brooks
“Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.”
Martin Luther
“Easter is very important to me. It’s a second chance.”
Reba McIntire