“Lord forgive them for they know not what they do. Father in your hands I commend my spirit.”
True love. A most precious gift which at times is like a lightening bolt and at others lies in the midst of life yet to unfold. Peaches, whisk me back to a time where I experienced such a unique sense and possibly a divine sense of true love. My Godparents whom I greatly love, had a peach orchard and every Spring and Summer we would help them pick and pack their peaches and in the Fall tend to our own apple orchard. It was there among the orchards, the seeds of love scattered throughout the veins of my heart. In my home life and with my Godparents, true love and sacrifice worked it’s way to the deepest parts of my soul. However, the itchiness I could have done without. At times, the days went into the evenings and my father reminded us we were grateful for helping and wanted nothing in return. We did it out of kindness and love. God sows seeds in all things.
We spent long days and evenings with my Godparents whom were utterly such kind and humble people. During our long visits I’d sit with ears perked in the midst of my godparents and parents conversations and eagerly listened as they shared thoughts and stories. Their deep respect and love for one another was soothing. They were calm and soft spoken but filled with great passion and a gentle nature. I especially reveled in their deep faith. When the time came, my godmother passed away and shortly after my godfather passed away. My heart has always believed he died of a broken heart. They were soul mates, as my husband is to me. God sows seeds in all things. How open is our heart and mind to God sowing seeds?
We were made for true love. Of all powerful and striking things for me is Jesus’s final words, “Lord forgive them for they know not what they do”. After a brutal torture, intolerable piercing of skin, excruciatingly, painful hanging on the cross and the unending spew of hatred against a Holy man of God, Jesus gave mercy and forgave us. Sinners. Jesus has such remarkable and magnanimous love for us that He died of a broken heart. Studies prove Jesus’s heart actually burst from immense true love. The studies show the separation of the blood and water that poured from His side as his heart swelled, as the soldier pierced the lance a last time could have only happened out of immense sorrow and love. “Bless them Father for they know not what they do.” Do we utter these words in our heart when we have been wronged? Mother Mary shows us magnanimous love. The Rosary prayer allows us to venerate Mary. Do we diligently seek love in our lives through Mother Mary and Jesus to ultimately God? When we hold on to pains against us we place bars around a heart made for immense love. Do we let seeds of love grow with others regardless of what we receive from them, for the sake of peace and love? God gives us perfect love.
Matthew 13:8-9 “Seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen.” In my home a peach is a pie, jam, oatmeal crisp, tart, a bountiful salad and a treasure of hope. A blessing from the past to joyously live for today. Do we fill our lives with joy? St. Francis, a man filled with joy and happiness used to contemplate death. He believed by doing so it allowed him to treasure every moment and live each moment to it’s fullest, in joy and happiness. In turn share with others. Death keeps life in perspective. God wants us to become saints and holy people. A people filled with joy and magnanimous great spirit. When we have Christ, Jesus, Mother Mary, faith and eternal life, our life transforms into utter beauty. God gives us perfect love. Be filled with God’s love.
Peace,
Claudia
Our Nourished Soul
Peach Pie
2 prepared Crisco pie crusts
10-15 peaches sliced
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Whisk together sugars, flours and spices. Add sliced peaches. Add to pie crust and place either full top or lattice top (cut 1″ strips of dough with small beveled roller). Bake for approx. 1 hour until pie slightly bubbles and crust is golden. Enjoy! Cook and experiment make it your own.