The Lord is my Shepherd

Maud (11) suffers from obsessional separation anxiety. She worries constantly that Nick or myself will be killed in a car or an aircraft - leaving her to cope alone with her Type 1 diabetes which has her walking a knife edge between life and death every day.She copes with her anxieties by comfort eating - which is probably the most dangerous thing a diabetic can do... (Diabetics who cannot control what they eat go blind and have feet amputated.)
I believe in seeking professional advice.
I sought audience with our minister.
I explained Maud's dilemma.
I asked him for help.
I hoped he might offer to speak with Maud.
Instead he referred me to Psalm 23 which starts: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
I went home to the children. I said: "The reverend says if the Lord was my shepherd, I wouldn't worry so much about Maud..."
There was silence.
Then Bea said: "How can the Lord be your shepherd, Mummy? You are not a sheep."

Why me, Lord?

Beatrice has been selected to play the part of Mary in this year's Nativity. Beatrice favours the method acting approach to getting into character. Here we see her with a pillow stuffed up her pyjamas, barefoot and dragging a bag of rugby balls round the garden. From her pained expression I'm sure you'll agree - rarely were the lines -"How much further is it to Bethlehem, Joseph? I am so tired" - spoken more truely from the heart.

Bravo Chile!

The Catholic Church has been taking a hammering with clerical sex abuse cases and cover ups.
"I don't think we'll ever recover," said Nick. "This is the end of the Church."
Until this miraculous story of 33 miners trapped underground in Chile. Did you notice how many of them, when they got out, dropped to their knees and prayed and crossed themselves? How many said if it hadn't been for their staunch Catholic faith they'd never have survived the ordeal?
"I was with God and the devil. I took God's hand and He saved me."
Not that I would ever presume to advise the Pontiff on anything - but a swift trip to Chile to meet those brave men wouldn't do Pope Benedict's ratings any harm....