A sprained ankle
confines me to the house
for a couple of weeks.

Then,
the swelling subsides
and I discover that,
if I wear sturdy walking boots
and walk carefully,
I can go out for walks again –
Y A Y ! ! !

And so,
this week finds me …
riding on the train
into Belfast city centre
for coffee

… up Divis Mountain
where dozens upon dozens
of wee, tiny caterpillars
sporting Kilkenny GAA colours
(gold and black stripes)
wriggle and wiggle
with determination
all the way
across the narrow road.

… dandering along
the Greenway at Omeath
where brightly-coloured butterflies
poise,
daintily and beautifully,
on buddleias of pink, mauve
and purple.

… and finally
off to Drumkeeragh Forest
where the light scent
of freshly-sawn pine
wafts across our path.

Thank You, Lord,
for the gift of healing
and for the blessing
of being fit
to go out for walks again.

(May I never again
take this tremendous blessing
for granted!)

© Claire Murray, 30th July 2023

Sometimes I struggle
to deal with people
who have wronged me
or whom I distrust.
I know
that I should pray for them.
But what exactly
should I pray for?
A change of heart
in them?
A change of heart
in myself?

I find myself absolutely
stumped.

But tonight I watch
Mother Angelica
on YouTube
as she describes an encounter
with a taxi driver
in New York.

The taxi driver
was a young woman
who is clearly resentful
of her passenger.
She was grumpy
and would not engage
in conversation.
Mother Angelica took the hint
and stopped chatting.

After her short taxi ride
Mother Angelica paid her fare,
gave the driver a generous tip
and said, “God bless you!”

The taxi driver
with huge tears in her eyes replied,
“No. God bless you!”

This simple story
makes a deep impression on me.
Maybe
I’m overcomplicating things.
Maybe
my prayer for those people
who have wronged me
should simply be
three little words –
“God bless him/her!”

I think that, in future,
I’ll try that.
I’ll keep my prayer for those people
simple –
just like Mother Angelica did!

© Claire Murray, 13th July 2024

Today I met a lady
called Lilian
when I was shopping
in Lidl.

Lilian’s eyesight
is beginning to fail.
She has no feeling
in her feet
and three fingers
on her right hand
no longer work.
She relies on her mobility scooter
to get out and about.

And do you know
what Lilian was doing?
She was counting her blessings!

Blessing Number One:
the joy that Lilian gets
every Christmas and Easter
when she creates
dozens and dozens
of hampers
jam-packed with goodies.
These hampers generate money
for many charities.

Blessing Number Two:
Lilian has managed to save up
enough money
to go on the diocesan pilgrimage
to Lourdes
(for the eleventh time!)
Our Lady will shower her
with blessings
while volunteer doctors, nurses
and young people
will tend to her medical needs
and even provide entertainment
in the evenings.

Blessing Number Three:
The love of her mother
who raised nine children
and who taught, by example,
the importance of sharing
what little you have
with those who have nothing.

Blessing Number Four:
Lilian is grateful
that she has been able to forgive
the group of teenagers
who injured her three fingers.

Blessing Number Five:
Lilian enjoys the company
of her friends
Martina and Clare
who visit her regularly
and who help her out.

And that’s just the beginning
of Lilian’s list of blessings!

This evening
as I settle down to pray
I decide to list
some of my own blessings.

Blessing Number One:
Today I met Lilian,
a lady who is full to brim
and overflowing
with Christian hope
and love.
Truly inspirational!

Thank You, Lord!

© Claire Murray, 20th June 2024