Miss Marcel's Musings on Modern Medical Miracles!

"God does not demand great actions from us, but simply surrender and gratitude." - little St. Therese

That may be my favorite quote from St. Therese because we are so easily tricked into thinking we are supposed to do great and be great. Ah, but the joy of the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood which gained Therese a Doctorate is that we don't have to do anything big, just love God from our spot in the firmament (or is it terra firma?) - well, simply surrender ourselves like a child into its mama or papa's arms, and sigh with gratitude.

Easy for me to say! I just had the most pain free cancer surgery ever! Granted I'm still a little stymied that no pink swag was offered (2 dear ones who had been through this before assured me there would be pink swag offered) - the nurses even laughed at me slightly scoffingly when I suggested this during the last pre-op (I love that anything happening between diagnosis and operation is "pre-op" and thus sounds very grand!), just before it was time for "Scalpel, please."

Luckily for us all, I was well out of it when (and if) the doctor put on his Marcus Welby act (or Doogie Howser or George Clooney in E.R. - gosh, it's been a long time since I've even heard about a medical show! Hugh Laurie in House? Is that about hospitals?).

The point is that anesthesiologist did a marvelous job. Then the surgeon apparently did his job, though I could hardly tell you because if you asked me, nothing happened! Just a nice snooze, an easy return from dreamland, and I was on my little way home being driven by my chauffeur of 36 years. He's remarkably good.

So I am grateful! I got to go to early Mass with my husband yesterday, the day after surgery. I got to visit with friends, and I got to see what it would be like if I rose out of my coffin at my own funeral! Not to be morbid at all, but it was fun to see the happy expressions on people's faces when I went to breakfast at TAC after Mass. Not even one person accused me of faking the whole "I need an operation, please pray for me a lot" routine. Said husband assures me it did happen!

And I am grateful for all your prayers, dear reader. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making my life so joyful. I know from past experience that it is possible for life to be really painful (physically and otherwise), but I know that God is a merciful Father and the kindest brother in the world, One who must turn away His face when we suffer, One who must come down to be with us in our pain. The great news is that He will never leave us alone, and the way He is showing me that this time is by your presence in my life. So thank you, with tears in my eyes, though only tears of joy and gratitude for YOU and your love. Please don't think you are unimportant because your great actions haven't been noticed. Your little ones have, and those are the ones that got Mother Teresa, St. Therese, and big St. Teresa to Heaven!

Speaking of which, I whiled away the time just before we went off to the hotel and hospital (always cushion your hospital outpatient surgery with a Hilton stay is my new advice! If it is near a hospital, they may give you a special discount and/or comp the parking and breakfast so you can pretend this is a way of life rather than a super fun and crazy adventure) - but as I was saying, as I whiled away the time before we left home, I listened and watched (mostly listened) to a lady in a bright jacket and floral dress talk about these 3 Teresas, and I was so excited. Okay, it was me, but thanks to a dear friend who is magnificent with a camera, and thanks to New Jersey for providing the fun (and soft) jacket, and thanks most of all to the angels, saints, and the Holy Spirit Who was with us the day I gave the talk for my parish - WOW, it sounded credible to me, all that stuff I said! (Okay, I didn't listen to the end, but I heard the first half, and it sounded both true and interesting. I can't ask for more!)

So if you feel like hearing (and perhaps seeing) more about these 3 Teresas who got to Heaven by surrender and gratitude (okay and a little elbow grease for the 1st and 3rd, but for the 2nd, our heroine and fave Doctor, the French little Therese, not so much elbow grease as very, little, teeny, tiny daily tasks done often badly - she was terrible at housework in the convent! - with lots of love, or at least as much as she could muster!) - then go for it and click HERE:

Miss Marcel speaks at St. Sebastian's Eucharistic day of reflection, back in the spring of 2024

May God bless and reward you for your love, support, and silent prayers (and even your out loud prayers!) - they have meant so much and provided me with a cushy ride on this new stretch of road. Poor Big St. Teresa falling out of that cart. She couldn't believe she was in the mud, and told the Truth the truth: "No wonder You have so few friends, if this is how You treat them!" - If you're having that kind of day, feel free to complain, but don't forget to laugh, too, because as little St. Therese says, "Children fall often, but they don't hurt themselves much because they're already so close to the ground!"

As for my prayers for you, I can only repeat with our sister:

Draw me; we will run!