We are born-again, Spirit-filled, Holy Women of God, who love Jesus to the end, and live for Him and for Him alone.

We write this because last Sunday we were "evanglised".... Not openly, you understand.

We were out selling all day, ie sitting in the open back of the Nunmobile, with our tables set there.

When we came to leave, there on the driver's seat was one of those clearly expensively printed leaflets.. the kind that get Christianity a bad name.

The window was closed, so the donour had opened the car door, without bothering to make himself known to us.

That was sneaky and underhand to say the least.

If you know and love Jesus, then you know and love all who know and love Him. You greet them as brothers and sisters, openly and with a welcome in your heart and on your lips.

Of course we know from past encounters that these young men from the North who come in like this think that Nuns and indeed all Catholics, are not in Christ, are no, in the words of the leaflet, "saved."

So let us assure all... we are born-again, Spirit- filled holy women of God. Living in Jesus Christ with every breath we breathe.

Christians do not sneak around as if they are ashamed of their faith. They do not judge or accuse.

This is something that must ache the heart of God.. as it aches ours.. The closed hearts and closed minds it demonstrates.

It is something we guard against always. A few weeks ago, a lady bought a small rosary, saying, " I think one decade is enough for a Protestant"  in such a hesitant and defensive voice. 

And we welcomed and greeted her and affirmed her in Jesus.

As we would the evangelists ...if they let us. 

We felt invaded somehow.  And that is not a good feeling to be left with.

Irish rain all day, mizzle, drizzle, mist and fog. Time for jamming and knitting.

The difference the gifted basket has made is humbling. More and more stop to look at the baby clothes.. and more and more buy now.  Favourites are the newborn size white sets, which are going around the world as Christening gifts. We are blessed and honoured... be not surprised; the basket was given with love, which enriches all it touches.. and we did not know that man and have not seen him since.

Better a basket given openly and freely than a rather threatening tract imposed secretly.

Better true giving and love than trying to exert power and control that have not love in them...

Blessings this night

Dramatic water rescue.....

This morning, there was a young frog in the dogs' large outdoor water bowl.

Ah, the poor thing; he looked dead, legs splayed out and not moving.

He must have leaped in in his youthful zest, then could get no purchase in the deep dish to get out again.

Terrible end for a young amphibian.

Just his nose peeping out.

Then he moved!!

So into the House went the dogs as they would think a wee frog great sport... and realising that catching him in a cup would be too traumatic, the whole bowl was carefully carried to a grassy place and gently emptied.

So he live to eat slugs for us....

Tender care of the little lives around us... Always compassion, for all and each.

The weather continues stormy and wild; praying for a break for the weekend so we can sell.. to take tender care of the little lives around us in Sri Lanka and Phuket and India.

Always compassion for each and all, for that is what The Master teaches, and His Word is Law and Love and Life to us in every last detail and moment of our lives.

Else we are hypocrites indeed.

So always strive we to be doers of the Word and not hearers only... to walk as we talk.

Else we have no call or right to talk.

Hollow clanging cymbals indeed then. 

This morning; beads a-threading as the rain beats melodies on the window pane.

Next? The recipe book... please help us by sending, and thank you to those who have..We will not of course be publishing our own jam recipes, but there will be a section of hints and tips on jam-making......

Blessings this wet and wind-stormed morning.

God is good to us...

A car stopped at the stall on Saturday. The man called from the window; he said he had a basket he did not need any more.. Would we like it for our display?

Yes, please...

And he presented us with a large and lovely new basket, with a high arched handle.

Before he had even reached his car, it was filled with baby things, some bright ones hanging prettily from the handle..

He and we were delighted.... Presentation is so important, and selling from tables can be hard on that aspect.

All on one level...

Baskets are a joy. There were some fine ones at a craft fair we were at recently, way beyond our slender means.

And the ribbons fluttered so attractively in the breeze...

It brightened a grey, rainy day.

God is good to us.

And the first copy of the new book sold. Signed, of course, "A Nun of Grace..."

Blessings this night, as the skies lighten after a day of fog and rain. Summer has deserted Ireland again.

Blessed the day...

.. when there is space between deluges and sweeping mist to sit out a while. Hands busy with needles and wool, as the heart prays deep thankfulness.. and the eyes rest on the mountains and fields. On green forestry and wild flowers. On sheep grazing....

Always the wild and living pageantry of the wide skies. Never still.

Quietude in solitude. As Jesus asks, space to be with Him away from the clutter of the world. His laws, His love, nothing of the world now.  

Apart in His glory.

We now have the new book in stock. Orders gladly accepted now.

Blessings this day.

This makes for hard reading...

http://www.oceanfm.ie/onair/donegalnews.php?articleid=000003195

It reminded me of a similar episode a few years ago, in a different town in Ireland - a much busier and larger one than Donegal Town.

An old man was reeling on the pavement, dripping blood from his head, apparently drunk.

And yes, everyone was just walking past him.

Almost I did the same; is it not hard to step out of line and easy to make excuses?

That day I had been so kindly given a lift into the centre of the city, and the driver was waiting...  

And surely someone else would stop... and what could I do anyway?

Then my Lord pulled me up short, and I stopped to see if the man was going to be safe. 

Seeing the car over the road, I went over to ask them please to wait while I got help for him.

The driver brushed that aside. " Oh someone else will stop; look, there's a Garda."

And the Garda walked past the man.

I was trying to get back across the hectic road when   a man did stop, and was obviously seeing if the man needed help.

Else I would have called an ambulance with no hesitation.

It pulled me up short and changed many things. Now we involve. Because if we who know Jesus do not, who will?

It is not always a popular thing, especially if there is drink involved...because there is intolernce here to drinking to excess, and condemnation....and you get a reputation for picking up strays...  dogs, child-beggars....

A while ago, we had Romanian gypsy beggars here, and they sent  a small child out to beg.

People were laughing at him and some were shouting.. a small boy of about seven.

The Gardai, when we went in to the Barracks about this, told us that the family were well off; they get large EU allownances when they come in. They are simply beggars,.. and that is no criticism, simply fact that has to be known, and  they train their children accordingly.

It is a different culture of course. And not safe or wise even in Ireland these days.

Because we had gone in and offered to help the family, the child was taken home and the mother, who we see often and talk to, was told not to let him beg.

And we keep a close eye now when we are out.

Donegal is a small and intimate town. There is the triangular "Diamond" in the centre and three roads leading off the surrounding road. A fallen man would stand out so much.

It is rarely so busy that folk would not see him.

And what does it cost to check? A few seconds only. And as in this case, it could save a life.  Most have mobile phones here... Just a quick 999 call....

Thankfully someone did.

We need to care for our neighbours.. Jesus teaches that directly and strongly.

Blessings this day.. warm winds now, and the fresh new growth of the rhodies sets off the foxgloves, tall thistles, and a mass of other purple wild flowers. The blackberries are setting fruit in the hedges, hard green and nobbly. A delight to watch and anticipate.