“Let us stand fast in what is right, and prepare our souls for trial.
Let us wait upon God’s strengthening aid and say to him:
‘O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations.'”
St. Boniface
(detail painting by Julie Cook based on Matthias Grünewald’s Isenheim’s Altarpiece 1510 / 2012)
Avoiding the Cross is the essence of the demonic…
Consider the softness of the Church today: the desire to accommodate herself to the world,
shrinking away from sacrifice, self-denial.
We have today in the Christian world a new dirty word, but it doesn’t have four letters.
The new dirty word has five: c-r-o-s-s.
Christ without the Cross?
Sure, anyone will accept that.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen
from Through the Year with Fulton Sheen
cookiecrumbstoliveby 
We want the glory without the suffering. Jesus, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross. He paid heavily.
And I think in our current happy feel good world we forget that
Your talents astound me, dear Julie. You should take up your brush again. Maybe teach the mayor how to paint. How’s that baby thing going. Tomorrow for sure right?
I got home yesterday as we all thought Tuesday— I had a million things to do today, like get Percy from the vets— but they called at midnight— I raced back to Atlanta— got to the hospital at 1 and got Autumn and brought her back to the house — Gregory followed and stayed at the hospital until 3 then came to the house— he went back at 7:30– I’ve got wild autumn with me now— the sheriff should arrive by the afternoon— oh- that painting is actually in color and was to be a triptych— I was working on when I retired from school— I’ll email you a pic of the full thing
Send pictures of the new sheriff when he arrives in town too. God’s blessings on a safe and easy delivery and prayers for you as you tend to Autumn.
Autumn managed to open the kitchen door and was headed out then she ate a piece of Alice’s dog treat all while I tried getting the clothes out of the dyer— God help me!!!!!
Peace be with you, I said while laughing my head off😜
We usually do fine— and now she walks and wants to be miss independent— what’s worse— standing outside alone or eating dog biscuits crumbs????
I didn’t realize you had painted the picture. I took a quick look and moved on. It was too intense. See I like the easy life also.
God’s blessings be with every member of the family. J.
Thank you!!! It’s certainly needed
Julie, I did not mean “too intense” as a criticism. The picture is so intense, I chose not to look. Great painting.
I know what you mean Oneta— were on the same page 🥰😎
Good.
Amazing talent my friend. Beautifully said as always. Praying for all the happenings with you!!
Thanks Shara— we need all the prayer we can get today