THOUGHTS ALONG THE JOURNEY

Congratulations Fady and Melissa, my brother and sister in law. Just got this message: “Melissa & Fady Ghanem proudly announce the birth of their daughter, Jessica, born on 2/3 at 11.39pm, weighing 3.54kg, 54cm. mother and baby doing well.” SOOO happy, their first child, my third niece (hi Tania, hi Sarah) and a cousin to Daniel (hey bro-do your homework) and to Paul (email me some time). More info:SAINT JESSICA Saint Jessica is a derivation of Joanna. She was one of the women who helped provide for Jesus and the Apostles and was one of the three women who discovered the empty tomb of Jesus on the first Easter morning. What saints day is it? Glad you asked: Bl. Charles the Good St. Agnes of Boheinia St. Willeic St. Chad St. Cynibild St. Fergna St. Gilstlian St. Jovinus & Basileus Martyrs of Campania St. Paul, Heraclius, and Companions. Check out her pictures in my Album Section - Jessica Ghanem

Why does God not always to answer our most fervent prayers? This is not something I have struggled with since, all things considered, God has been pretty good to me; no mortgage, no employment hassles, no teenage kids and at the moment no ‘real’ responsibilities. But after reading a Jewish story in response to the question of ‘why does God not answer our prayers’ I think I should start to worry. “There was a king who had two daughters, one old and wise, the other young and headstrong. When the gentle sister came before him with some request the king would be reluctant to grant it, hoping to keep his daughter near him, for her voice was pleasant to his ears. But when the harsh and noisy younger child screamed for something, the king gave it to her right away, for he wanted to get her out of the palace. Like the King, God has by no means forgotten you merely because the request of the younger sister is granted.” This story was first told by Rabbi Eliiezer to his young pupil Akiba and can be found in the Mishnah which is the oral law of Jewish people (in wriiten form) found in the Talmud. I came across it while reading James Mitcheners book ‘The Source’, page 576 of 1078 – will I ever finish it!!!!!!!!! I have never thought of myself as a noisy younger sister, but there you go.