Sliney Central

Is it really that big of a deal?
Taking out garbage without a peal,
Preparing a top class home-cooked meal,
Fighting feelings to stay even-keel,
Not treating others like a fifth wheel,
Patching up wounds and trying to heal,
Kindness, good manners…being genteel,
These acts soften your heart to congeal,
Of course you must often pray and kneel,
Begging for grace with heart felt appeal,
This is love and the Christian Ideal!

It all began with a choice for life…
Knowing this would add serious strife.
Nine months hidden in your gentle womb,
Hidden pain, waiting for me to bloom.

Those early years nestled in the crib…
Sauce and crumbs, imbedded in my bib.
When my temper showed it’s ugly face,
Your soft arms were ready to embrace.

High school was a turbulent phase…
Yet, I stayed calm with your loving gaze.
When God’s call pierced my heart and my soul,
You were there to inspire and console.

Fourteen years to ordination day…
I survived because you stopped to pray.
Mothers of priests are special indeed,
Their deep holiness should be decreed!

Mom, your focus on Christ lifts me high,
Even now, from my abode in Rye.
Words cannot express my gratitude,
For your truly selfless attitude.
I love you mom, happy Mother’s Day!

It’s so easy to complain,
Over daily aches and pains.
To start whispering campaigns,
When feeling other’s disdain.
Why allow this huge brain drain?
Walk with Christ…sing in the rain!

We have Jesus as our friend!
He can heal us and mend,
He’ll be faithful to the end!
On his love for us…depend!

No more empty platitudes,
God gives us all latitude,
To change our gloomy attitude:
Focus more on gratitude!

God’s work of art, yet not quite done,
Eighty eight years, without much fun.
His brush painted out a tough course,
That your free will FULLY endorsed.

Like a pearl refined in the sea..
Like the sparkling caves in Capri,
Your soul rings out with “bel esprit,”
A melodious potpourri!

As another birthday draws near,
And you approach a new frontier,
I beg you, mom, to persevere,
To reach…the celestial sphere!

God’s work of art, yet not quite done,
Boy, am I proud to be your son!!

I LOVE YOU, MOM!!

Moms and dads are given a flock,
Looks and genes stem from the same stock,
Kids will read your thoughts…so sublime!
Habits are absorbed over time,
They observe you around the clock.

It’s not enough to just “provide,”
Discipline, love…must be applied,
The Sacraments and daily prayers
Will show Christ as their friend, who cares,
His life will serve as their sure guide.

These little sheep look up to you,
In a few years, they’ll say adieu,
They’ll walk the path which you have lead…
Prepare them for battles ahead!
Be authentic, PLEASE be true blue!

The classic question: “what would Jesus do?”,
Requires a sound Scriptural review.
The Gospels offer an array of clues,
Inspired by God, you know it’s true blue,
No rush, no hurry…take some time to chew,
Best done in a Church, kneeling on a pew,
The Holy Spirit provides the break through!

For many, this may be long-overdue,
Others consider it hullabaloo,
Like a hound of heaven, God will pursue,
He patiently waits for your grand debut,
This treasure is not for a chosen few!
Lean on his word, try walking in his shoes,
Through Christ’s kind, merciful eyes, cast your view,
Only then you’ll know, what Jesus would do!

Alarm ringing in the morning,
Sounding the early warning,
Head still spinning from dreaming,
Tired bones, silently screaming.

Christ is patiently hoping
In spite of all the groaning,
To see open hearts…serving ,
Self-giving…not observing!

Please, start your day by praying,
Hear what Jesus is saying!
“So many souls are hurting…
It is so disconcerting,
This alarm is my calling,
Please help me…without stalling!”

So many different Saints above,
Nuns, priests, lawyers…even .Gov!
Fighting sin without boxing gloves,
All linked together by Christ’s love.

They simply loved a little more,
Self-Sacrifice…no keeping score.
They fostered a strong esprit de corps,
Selflessness…was their inner core.

The path to sanctity is clear:
Daily prayer, one must persevere!
Souls that glow, like a chandelier,
From deep virtue, that is sincere,
Hearts that listen, with Jesus’s ear,
Unbreakable faith, without fear,
Their holy presence, brings Christ’s cheer!

Heart felt communication,
Eye to eye, no translation,
Just two…no mediation,
Back and forth…conversation.

iPad, iPhone, iCloud…why?
Relationships in the sky?
Too often we hit “reply,”
Make a visit and “drop by!”

Spoken words are “M.I.A.”
Even on Valentine’s day!
Why write/text what you can say?
Avoid the long dossier,
Make it real…without delay!
Especially when you pray!!

Hidden pains of the heart, are buried deep within.
Some are self-inflicted, the ravages of sin.
Stress can stretch the soul, like thick rubber bands pulled tight, 
Many swim in darkness, an abyss without light.
Death’s dagger strikes at random, leaving friends behind,
We don’t know when or how…our time has been assigned.

Jesus perceives this all…he knows each aching sore,
Christ walked in our shoes…and with prayer he won this war.
Lean hard into God, when life’s waves kick up a storm,
For by this patient purging, we can be transformed!
True peace and joy are God’s gifts, coming from above,
He showers grace on hearts, who suffer with great love!