Behold the Turtle

"Behold the turtle, it only moves forward when it sticks its neck out." -Jason

These words were spoken by my husband on our phone call this morning.  The original quote was from James Bryant Conant.  This morning, I took Andrew on a walk by the Potomac River.  I was talking to Jason while pushing the stroller when I stumbled upon a turtle in the middle of the path.  We were discussing the logistics of the afternoon; one child has a doctors appointment, one child has cross country practice and the other child will be catching a nap in his carseat.  Having three children, we certainly stick our neck out so that we can move forward and make progress on this path of life.

This past summer, we had reunions on my side of the family and on Jason's side.  It was delightful to see the cousins play together and to watch my children spend time with their long distance relatives from Colorado, Montana and Michigan.  During these reunions, I was reminded of the Holy Trinity.  The Holy Trinity is a community of persons.  Family reunions are also a community of persons.  Community has been a huge factor in our lives lately.  Our community has certainly stuck its neck out for us when we needed it.

Last week, Andrew celebrated his first birthday.  I was able to reflect at what we had gone through in those 12 months.  He was hospitalized at two NICU's, he pulled through abdominal surgery where part of his colon was removed when he was 15 days old, and I was hospitalized for gastroparesis attacks for over three months.  Not to mention, both of my parents also had major operations.  It was a tough, tough year.  But we stuck our neck out, held our head high, and spent a lot of time on our knees with prayer on our lips and in our hearts.  There is no way that we could have survived without the prayer and support of our community.  And we are all the stronger for it.

When I go through life changing moments such as these, I always want to shout from the rooftops how great my God is.  During the trying times, God has strengthened my marriage and has been by our side.  Words cannot express the amount of times that I have felt Jesus' unyielding presence.  I always feel Him closer through times of suffering. 

Today is the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  September 11, 2001 was a horrid time for our country.  The first responders and military certainly stuck their necks out to save as many lives as possible.  I was stationed overseas at an Air Base in Germany when the attacks happened.  I will never forget the sirens indicating that we needed to be in full protective gear.  We were quickly assembled in a common room and names were called for those who would deploy that night.  You could have heard a pin drop.  It was eery.  We were worried about our family, friends and beloved country.  Many of us couldn't get ahold of our families.  Fortunately, I was able to call my parents before I left the Air Base.  

We now live in a post-9/11 world.  My children will never know what life was like before 9/11. But our country triumphed.  Love was the answer.  Instead of cowering in fear, our country stood in strength and solidarity.  Our country brought God to the forefront.  

Over the past 18 years, it feels as if God is transitioning to the backseat... again.  He is no longer in the forefront.  This is evident by abortions, the sale of aborted baby parts, mass shootings in schools and public areas, and even praising evil in hit pop music.  

Let's stick our necks out like the turtle and bring God back to the forefront. Let's never forget that we are God's sons and daughters; that we are a family.  May we always stand in strength and solidarity, with God as our General leading us towards the victory of truth and life.  

I will leave you with part of the first reading for today.  "Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Thank of what is above, not of what is on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory." 1 Col. 3:1-11

Be like the turtle.  Stick your neck out and progress forward.  Stick your neck out and praise God.  Seek Him, love Him, thank Him.