GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

KATHY'S ROSARY STORY - part five

    I resume Kathy's story. Again I remind you, she wanted me to tell you that if you would like to have a copy of her unedited story, you can e-mail her at KHestekin@aol.com. Her story is not to be reproduced for profit, however.

    Prior to my father's stroke I had had a dream which seemed real and very dramatic. I had dreamt that my father was dying of a heart attack. All I could think of was that I needed to be there when he died. I needed to pray over him and with him.

    I awoke from my dream praying very hard that God would not allow my father to die without me being with him to pray for him. In retrospect I think that dream was a sign of what was to occur.

    The day after my dad's stroke, my two sisters and I drove 312 miles to the hospital in Rice Lake. Dad's stroke was very severe. He was completely paralyzed on the left side, had slurred speech and muscles spasms.

    Over the next five months, my earnest prayers were answered. Not only did I care for my Dad, but I prayed with him and for him and was there when he took his last breath. For this I am very grateful to God.

    In August of 1997, I took a four-day break to travel to Boston, MA to meet a dear Sister-friend of mine [guess who that was] and several other people. We were making a pilgrimage to see Little Audrey Santo in Worcester, MA. (Sr. Mary Lucy has written about Little Audrey in previous articles.) We also traveled to Stockbridge, MA to visit the Shrine of Divine Mercy.

    In our group was another lady, a cradle Catholic, but one who had fallen away from the practice of her faith. While at the Shrine, I had a tremendous urge to give this lady my beautiful crystal Rosary and to tell her that Jesus loved her very much. When I did this, we both cried and hugged each other. But again, I was without a Rosary.

    By this time, I began to wonder about this pattern of mine of giving away my Rosaries. Yet there were more dark days to come.

    Along with the death of my father came the separation from a very dear friend of mine. One great trial after another was occuring (my cancer, my dad's death, the separation of my dearest friend). It all seemed to overwhelm me. I didn't have time to adjust to any one of the trials than the other set in upon me. The darkness was oppressive. Even my boss mentioned that my middle name must be "Job."

    But we all have "Job" in our life in some way or another. It is just very important to recognize it and pray fervently that God will get us through these trials and dark times.

    (Kathy's story will be continued. Don't forget, dear reader, to make a good confession to prepare for the birthday of Our Lord, Jesus.

    God bless you!