Lord,
there’s a beautiful sky
outside
and it looks like
a lovely day.

Thank You for the gift
of a bright spring morning.

Thank You for the gift
of retirement
which enables us
to enjoy this morning’s beauty
at our leisure.

Thank You for the gift
of faith
which enables us
to enjoy such splendour
with You by our side.

Thank You for the gift
of good priests
who are leading us
in our faith.

Thank You for the gift
of today.
May we spend it wisely,
drawing closer to You.

© Claire Murray, 30th January 2023

Reshma has spent
five long and lonely months
in hospital
receiving treatment
for leukaemia.
And recently,
I’ve been asking Takashi Nagai
to pray for her.

Takashi Nagai was diagnosed
with leukaemia
as a result of extensive work
with X-Rays.
Takashi survived the atom bomb
which was dropped on Nagasaki
and which his wife, sadly,
did not survive.
In the aftermath of that atom bomb,
Takashi willingly exposed himself
to deadly radiation
as he worked in the city ruins
to help survivors
and to make detailed observations
on the effects of radiation.

Takashi, who was a man of deep faith,
went on to become
a Holy Man of Nagasaki
as he inspired people
all round the world
with his attitude
of generosity
and Christian forgiveness.

Each day now
I ask Takashi Nagai
to pray for Reshma –
for healing and strength
as she battles her leukaemia.

I’m convinced
that I’m asking the right person
to intercede for Reshma
because if anyone can understand
Reshma’s physical and emotional pain,
it’s Takashi Nagai.

(I wonder some day
if they’ll make him a saint?)

© Claire Murray, 13th March 2025

I remember
coming in from playing
when I was wee –
face streaked with mud,
knees mucky,
clothes boggin’,
eyes dancing!

Brilliant fun!

As an adult,
my days of playing outside
are well and truly over
and yet today,
when I came in from the garden,
it felt a bit like being wee again –
face streaked with mud,
knees mucky,
clothes boggin’
and, I suspect,
eyes dancing!

We had been busy in the garden,
you see.
Bulbs to plant,
holes to dig,
moss to scrape away,
paths to brush,
leaves to rake
and twigs to tie into bundles
(for the wee creepy-crawlies!)

Busy … mucky … fun!!!

Thank you, Lord,
for a happy, fun afternoon
in our garden
that brought back memories
of those mucky, fun,
carefree days
of childhood.

(Aren’t gardens great?)

© Claire Murray, January 2025