God says: "Ask Me." - More Seeds of Hope for Lent

Today’s story seed is Ask Me. From the Gospel of John chapter 5, verse 44. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Her daughter cleared her throat and said, “Mom, it’s time for you to move into a retirement home.” Those words struck a chord of terror into this mother’s heart. She was worried that her daughter would suggest this, and now she had. No more subtle hints. She had said it plainly. At 79 years old, she didn’t feel that old. She was still able to dress and bathe, cook, and drive. She went for a walk most days. She enjoyed reading. Her life was good. But the yard work was beyond her, and walking down the steps to the laundry was certainly not as easy as it had been even five years ago. She and her husband had been determined to stay in the house as long as they could, but, of course, he got sick. She watched him slip away from 190 pounds to 110 pounds, and then one long, dark night, he smiled and took his last breath. Her husband had always known what to do, and she had followed his lead. Now that he was gone, there were others telling her what to do. She was listening. Her neighbor said, “Don’t you let them tell you what to do. It’s your house, not theirs. You tell your kids to mind their own business. You’re perfectly healthy. There’s no reason for you to move.” The retirement home was actually a campus with a variety of levels of care. “It’s perfect for you, Mom,” said her daughter. “There are games, activities, travel possibilities, and a variety of meal plans. Certainly, it would be nice to not have to cook every meal.” “But I’m not that old. I don’t need to go to the old folks home. At least not for some years to come.” Then she had the fall. She was fine. All that happened was that her wrist was bruised and sore, but she didn’t break anything. “It happens to all of us,” said her neighbor. “It doesn’t mean that you’re old. You just have to remember to pay attention.” She started praying about her situation. She said a decade of the rosary each day and asked Mother Mary to help her make the right choice. After praying like this for a few days, it became clear to her that her husband would have definitely wanted her to stay in the house, and so she should stay. But she continued over the next few days to pray about this, and it became clear to her that she loved her children, and they clearly thought it was best for her to move, and so she should follow their advice. After another week of prayer, the good intentions of her neighbor tugged on her heart. That neighbor loved her and wanted what was best for her, and so she should stay in her house. One night after praying, two words lingered in her mind: “Ask me.” But she didn’t know who to ask. In the subsequent days, the same two words kept surfacing for her. “Ask me.” After another week, one night she said out loud, “Lord, I don’t even know who to ask. Who is ‘me?’” “It’s me,” came the answer. She didn’t hear this voice, she more or less, felt it. She sat still for a couple of minutes and then asked, “What should I do, Lord?” She felt the answer was, “You already know. Where are you at peace when you think of the options. That peace is my gift to you. Use it to make your decision.” She thought about staying in the house and how it would make her husband and neighbor happy, but as much as she loved the house, she knew she would fall again on the steps. When she thought of the retirement village, one image came into her mind. It was a labyrinth that was part of the manicured grounds of the facility. She loved to walk. She loved the turns of a labyrinth. As she thought of it, a calm came over her. Her decision was made. “Thank you, Lord,” she said. How about you? Are you listening to everybody but the Lord? Or maybe you’re listening to everybody including the Lord. It’s hard to make decisions. Most of us want reassurance from others that we have chosen wisely. We are after the praise of those surrounding us. That’s not necessarily bad. There is something deeper, though. That is seeking the praise of the one who dwells in each of us, the one who came to show us the way to live our life. The one who offers us peace. The one who whispers, “Ask me.” Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed… What’s the question you need to ask the Lord?