A shower of roses

God has a beautiful way of unfolding a story.  Throughout my life there has been a faithful friend of mine that has prayed for me, watched over, and guided me along my path.  This friend lived a very short time in our world, but spends her eternity blessing and loving others.  

St. Therese was born in France one hundred years before I was born...and sadly died at just 24 years old.  She lived her short life for Jesus.  Being ill, she was unable to perform "great"works for God's people.  Instead she chose do every little task for her Jesus.  She loved Jesus with everything in her being.  She wrote...

         " I desire no sensible consolation in loving; provided Jesus feel my love that is enough for me. Oh! to love Him and to make Him loved...how sweet it is..."


I learned about St. Therese in 8th grade before I received the Sacrament of Confirmation.  During preparation we as Catholics are encouraged to learn more about one saint. We use that Saint's name during our sacrament, and ask them to pray for us throughout our life.  They become like our role models.  To be honest, I'm not sure what drew me to St. Therese to begin with...except roses!  She is called the "Little flower"...and roses are her symbol. In fact, with her novena we ask her to pray for us, and "pick us a rose from the Heavenly garden, and send it us with a message of love from our Father."  The more I learned about her, the more I became inttrigued and desired to be more like her. 

  Throughout my life...I have asked St. Therese to pray for me.  Just as my dear friends here on this beautiful world do...she has been there for me, to pray for me whenever I ask her.  And just as my prayer warriors may send me a message to let me know they are praying for me....my dear St. Therese has sent me several messages, reminding me she is never far, and always interceding on my behalf.  One of the very first times I can remember her really walking with me was when I asked for her prayers when I was choosing colleges.  The moment I saw the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi, I knew that is where God was call me to attend.  Even though I did not know anyone else attending, and it was out of state...I knew I was supposed to be there.  Because in the very front of the USM campus is a beautiful garden of long stem roses!! And of course an important part of our story is that Steve and I met at USM.  Thanks dear St. Therese, for the roses!! 

With the military we move often and have lived in several houses.  Starting with our very first house, 15 years ago, we have had a rose somewhere around our houses.  Our first house had only one flowering plant when we first moved in...one white rose bush.  Every house since then has had a rose somewhere near it!  Even the house in Maryland that we rented.  Since we were only going to live there a year, we rented a townhouse.  While still in Mississippi, we found the house with a rental company, and sealed the deal before moving there.  I was very anxious about getting to the house when we moved there.  As we were putting the key into the door, and I was still praying that it would be okay, and we wouldn't walk into a distaster...then I looked over, and saw a beautiful rose bush, right by the door.  I knew my St. Therese was praying and walking right there next to me!!  The house we are currently in is the only house that didn't have a rose near it before we moved in.  However, shortly after we moved in, my in-laws surprised me with this....

One of the most precious gifts St. Therese has given me is the intercession with our children.  When Clare was 3 and Jon was about a year and half, we started praying about a third child.  We were still young, and had some big life changes.  Of course we trusted our Lord, but wasn't sure what was the best time.  I went to my St. Therese.  I asked her to pray for us, to pray for our children (the ones we have already been blessed with and the ones that will come in the future).  I asked her to help us accept God's will and His timing.  On October 1, 2004 (the feast of St. Therese) we attended daily Mass.  Walking out of the church I saw a beautiful red rose laying across the sidewalk.  It looked as if it had just fallen out of a vase.  It was absolutely stunning and perfect!!!  At that moment, I knew, staring down at the rose, that I was pregnant. I could feel St. Therese praying for us and our children.  9 months later....we were blessed with our very special Anna THERESE. 

This was on Anna's 7th birthday.  If you look closely you can see a small rose bud.  On her birthday was the very first time this rose bloomed!!  We said it was her birthday gift from her namesake, St. Therese! 

Remember I said I asked her to pray for all of our children...little did we know that just a couple of weeks after Anna was born, in a country far from our own, another blessing was just starting his journey in this life.  And he would also be guided by this very special saint.  

You see, our son still waiting in Ch*na....is being cared for so dearly by a wonderful group foster home.  They have cared for him since we was an infant.  They have loved him and watched him grow his entire life.  They have not only helped him receive medical care, but a wonderful education as well.  These wonderful group of people call their foster home LITTLE FLOWER!!!  Yes....you read that correctly, Little Flower, as in St. Therese, the little flower.  Each of the staff, foster parents, and volunteers, live every day the example St. Therese has taught us...to love Jesus with every bit of your being....even in the every day little things.  

Once again, my St. Therese has showered us with roses!!!  Of course, I asked her intercession while we were praying about our decision to adopt again.  We could not have had a clearer example of how God is working....how HE LISTENS and answers our prayers.  Our precious son, has been LOVED so very much, every day of his life.  To make it even sweeter....the foster home practices our amazing Catholic faith!!!!  He is Catholic!!  He and his foster family attend the same Eucharistic celebration we do every week...the same Scripture readings we hear here in America, he hears in Ch*na!!  This gift makes us feel so connected to our son.  

I hope one day I will be able to spend my eternity showering others with prayers from Heaven.  I am so grateful for my dear friend, St. Therese, who is such an important part of our story.  

Dear Therese, please continue to pray for our son and for our family while we continue along this adoption process. Please be with him during times of struggles, fear, and uncertainty.  Pray for his foster parents and all of those wonderful people that care for him every day.  Thank you for your example, and teach us to love our Lord Jesus as deeply as you do.  Amen