No Thanks

It is official. There can be no other explanation for the things we have seen in the last 2 days. We are positively witnessing a 'miracle season' in our lives.

Paul's little brother Michael walked into the room yesterday and had on a fleece jacket and it has the brand name COLUMBIA on the front. Paul motioned for Mike to come closer and he pointed at the word COLUMBIA and then he did a motion with his hand that a director of a movie might due to mean 'cut'. He did this motion across his throat, with his right hand. He was trying to tell Mike to quit wearing his clothes. The jacket Mike had on was a new one that Mike had purchased last week, and it is charcoal grey. Paul has one just like it, only black. So Mike told him, "I know this looks like yours, but see, mine has a pocket on the inside and mine is grey - yours is black." With that explanation, Paul gave him the ok sign. That let us know Paul has memory of things in his past, but to what extent will remain to be seen. Mike knows it means he won't be able to borrow Paul's leather jacket after all.

Mike also purchased a pair of shoes for Paul to wear. Paul looked at them and then motioned to put them back into the box. He didn't like them. He realized they weren't his own shoes. So Mike told Paul all about the gel in the heels and that Uncle Mike wears this same shoe, and went on to explain how well built they were. So Paul took another look at them, then handed me the shoe and pointed to his foot. I put them on and Paul seemed content with them. Appears Paul's fashion sense is intact. Or, it could mean that Mike will be able to talk his brother into anything............like all the good reasons Paul should let him wear the leather jacket.

Jon was with Paul all day yesterday and it was fitting that he got to see Paul take his first step. I was witness to Paul's other first steps about 20 years ago, so it was his dad's turn. Jon said that Paul was in the wheelchair when he got there. They took Paul down to the physical therapy room and asked Paul to help get out of the wheelchair. What they were not ready for was Paul getting up and standing with very moderate assistance and took a step to help get to the mats. These mats are on platforms that are raised to about knee level, so patients can sit and strengthen the back and neck muscles. When he was done, he stood up again and with moderate assistance, got back into his wheelchair. They did not have to use the lift to get Paul back into bed either. He stood and helped get to the bed. See what I mean? The only explanation is that we are in the miracle season. For Paul to have made that kind of progress over night is phenomenal.

That is not the highlight of the day, believe it or not. Jon had brought a pad of paper and a pen down with him to see if Paul could write anything. He said he wrote a couple of things, but Jon could not make it out. Then, someone asked Paul if he needed help with anything, and he wrote NO THANKS on the pad of paper. He can spell, can write and even remembered his manners! We were bursting with joy at this development. It does not mean Paul is fully recovered, but it is a good starting point for him. Paul has such a long way to go before he has all the recovery God intends for him, but God's hand is clearly at work. It has made our walk with Him so filled with hope and joy and renewed faith. Everyday we are reminded that we have choices. We could despair over the fact that Paul may never play the guitar as he did before, or that he may suffer a permanent physical impairment (vision), or cognitive disabilities. Or we could dwell on how this has disrupted our lives at this busy time of year, when we were in the middle of getting ready for our son Jon's wedding.Or that we can no longer come and go as we used to. But the joy that has come from thanking God for the life of Paul, for the opportunity to share this real faith story with others to help them renew their own faith and ours as we care for each other through our prayerfulness - these are some of the gifts of this miracle season. We have felt a love that has been like a blanket to us,and have seen marvelous deeds and actions by the caring nurses and doctors and friends. We have heard of the miracles happening to people who had given up on God, but were drawn back in by this story of a young man receiving great graces and healings through the powerful prayers of faithful people of God. So many things will not be made known to us, but will still be part of this story that has helped us learn about the Glory of God. I heard once that the tapestry that God weaves is not for us to know or see, but that we have to trust He is weaving it according to His will. We can only see the knots from below. I have imagined that one day, I may see the one beautiful ROSE that was woven in this large tapestry, and that will be the flower that represented our little occurence and the lives of everyone touched by it. It is a tiny little event in the whole scheme of history, but the ripple effect will go out and be part of God's marvelous plan for His children.

Today's scripture reading at Mass jumped out at me and confirmed what we have come to understand in this last month. St. Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, 5:16-24,
" Brothers and Sisters: Rejoice always. Pray wihout ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil. May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it."

Yes, our Lord Jesus is faithful, and His way to our heart is made straight when we listen humbly to the words of Truth.

Jesus is the light for your pathway - pray for the grace to follow Him where He leads you. He will never fail you.

Love to everyone in this day that the Lord has truly made.
Jon and Rebecca Fidero