Sunday Silence

Of loss and love

Treasure your creatures, for they aren't with us nearly long enough. Two of my friends lost their stallions in the last couple of days; blogger All the Pretty Horses lost her blue roan stallion, at the early age of 13- no visible cause so most likely cardiac arrest, and another friend made the call on his 19 year old stallion due to his infirmities. Very sad for both of them and all who knew those wonderful stallions.
As I look at my oldies, I know that day will come for me too; Reba is nearly 15 now, and Beamer is also 15. With Reba, it's week to week; with Beamer I hope for 10 more years, but I'll take whatever the good Lord decides.

A lot of people post about the "rainbow bridge", but it's not something I think of as a reality. I do however, believe that God has given our animals a soul different from ours and that as His created beings there is a place for them in eternity, and that it is indeed likely that we will meet them again on the other side of this life. Several recorded near death experiences have mentioned being greeted not just by the souls of people but of animals too.
The love we give to our creatures is not wasted in His sight; for love is a part of God, the eternal good.

St. Valentines day

St. Valentine was a Catholic priest who was martyred in the year 269. Here is a little of his story:

The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in a The Nuremberg Chronicle, a great illustrated book printed in 1493. [Additional evidence that Valentine was a real person: archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine.] Alongside a woodcut portrait of him, text states that Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius the Goth [Claudius II]. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus made a strategic error: he tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate [circa 269]

Saints are not supposed to rest in peace; they're expected to keep busy: to perform miracles, to intercede. Being in jail or dead is no excuse for non-performance of the supernatural. One legend says, while awaiting his execution, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine."

Hence the modern practice of letters and cards dedicated to lovers. What has gotten lost in the commercialization of this day is the concept of standing up for your beliefs in the face of all odds, even to the point of death.
St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.

Ted and I on our wedding day,  we are still this happy.

Sunday Silence

Joyous Christmas to all!

For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.