#birth defect

He has some heart and lung problems, and man, the Pentecost propers this year hit hard. Lord, fill his lungs with the strong driving wind of your Spirit. Heal his wounds, his strength renew, correct what has gone astray. Mend his heart, and kindle in him the fire of your love.

In our labor, rest most sweet; grateful coolness in the heat; solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine, shine within these hearts of yours, and our inmost being fill!

Where you are not, we have naught, nothing good in deed or thought, nothing free from taint of ill.

Please keep us in your prayers. I've been asking for the intercession of Fr. Mychal Judge for my little one. We learned about our baby's birth defect a week ago. Things change so quickly and all you can do is trust in God and put one foot in front of the other. While in the NICU, I've been praying over Fr. Mychal's last homily.

"That’s the way it is. Good days. And bad days. Up days. Down days. Sad days. Happy days. But never a boring day on this job. You do what God has called you to do. You show up. You put one foot in front of another. You get on the rig and you go out and you do the job – which is a mystery. And a surprise. You have no idea when you get on that rig. No matter how big the call. No matter how small. You have no idea what God is calling you to. "

Near prophetic words on September 10, 2001, but also a strong reminder that parenting and openness to life is a mystery and a surprise, unknowable and ever-changing, and all you can do is put one foot in front of the other and do your best to answer God's call.