{"id":974,"date":"2014-01-02T19:14:08","date_gmt":"2014-01-02T19:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=974"},"modified":"2014-01-02T19:14:08","modified_gmt":"2014-01-02T19:14:08","slug":"signs-of-gods-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2014\/01\/signs-of-gods-love.html","title":{"rendered":"Signs of God’s Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Maureen<\/a>“Would you like some apple juice?”<\/p>\n

The nurse’s assistant was new to my doctor’s office, and I had only just met her. But as she helped the phlebotomist draw more than 11 tubes of blood from my arm, she could see that I was becoming a bit woozy. I gratefully accepted her offer, and felt better both from the sweet juice and her extra care at a tough time. Later, after I’d left the doc’s office, I realized that the appointment and the nurse’s assistant had revealed yet another sign of God’s love for me – and I was grateful for that, too!<\/p>\n

How often do we think we need to see a proverbial burning bush to really experience God’s power and love? How often do we go through our days quickly, perhaps noticing good things, but not connecting them with Our Lord’s presence in our lives?<\/p>\n

As this new year gets underway, I hope to take more time to breathe in the ways God shows His love, especially the “little” ways that I’d otherwise overlook. And, as I connect them with His care for me, I also want to connect them more with a heart full of appreciation – for Him and His Creation.<\/p>\n

Blessings for the day!<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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