How do we know when we have been blessed? Today I have come to understand this more fully. More specifically, within the last 5 minutes.

Today was the 2008 St. Francis Confirmation Retreat. I have been working late hours all week preparing for this event. Last night I was up until past 1am. Today I was at Church all day. This event has taken a lot of effort and time. And now that it is over, I’m glad to be home with my wife and children.

Having not been home a lot, I took time this evening to put my two older boys to bed. As I stood next to their bunk bed, having tucked them in a kissed them, I said “let’s pray.” My 5 year old joins me in the prayer:

Dad and boys: In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Dad: God

Ben: God

Dad: Thank you for my boys

Ben: Thank you for my dad.

The rest of the prayer is a mystery to me. I’m not sure what was said. I’m in awe of Ben’s awareness and intent in his prayer. I’m in awe of God working in him. I’m in awe.

Men, today I know I am blessed. Having spent all day seeking Christ, and encountering Him in the Eucharist during Adoration, seeing Him work in the lives of teens, experiencing the Holy Spirit during talks and prayer, and enjoying fellowship in His name……I come home and God reaches into my heart at the most unexpected time in the most powerful way I experienced Him today.

God is amazing. I am blessed.

I pray that you are blessed through your family and by God.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Guys, as this blog has more functionality, I’ve added some additional pages. You can see the links right below the title of the page.

Join me in praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet for your family. I am attempting to do this daily for my family. The chaplet is prayed with a Rosary and can be done in a short period of time. Remember to “pray” this, not “say” it. We can say the chaplet in about 7 minutes, but you can pray it in about 12-15. Take your time and actually ask for God’s mercy.

Now more than ever, our children need to see our mercy. The whole world is trying to take them from us and make them slaves to sin. I’m convinced the Divine Mercy Chaplet will strengthen families when prayed consistently and intently. God will honor our prayers. He will restore our families. He will transform our lives.

Learn it, pray it, live it.

God bless you.

PS: PRAY for the St. Francis Confirmation Retreat on Saturday. Aprox 140 8th graders will hear God’s love and be invited to set their lives on fire for the Lord.