the hands of God / five favs

Well, there's no getting around it: it's a sad day. Today's a day for repentance and prayer.

I wrote last week on five ways to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade with your family, but today, my creative spark is gone and I'm in mourning mode, mourning the babies, mourning with the women who were pressured, coerced or forced at gunpoint into a clinic. Mourning with those who aborted because they didn't think they had enough money or support to feed another child. Mourning my own missed chances to support them.

In the face of such grievous suffering and sadness, I know that all is still in the hands of God. That's probably why a phrase popped into my head a few days ago:

"...Something something something... 

The rest is in the hands of God."  

Those words kicked around my head, driving me nuts because I couldn't place the movie, song or show from which they came. Internet quote searching commenced.

1. Maybe it's from Fiddler on the Roof?

[Hodel is leaving on a train for Siberia]

Hodel: Papa, God alone knows when we shall see each other again.

Tevye: Then we will leave it in His hands.

Close, but no cigar. L'chaim.

2. Was it the song?

He's go the whole world in His hands....

He's got the little bitty babies in His hands...

Close, but not exactly. But when taken in today's context, that song always makes me cry. He's got a whole lot of little babies in His hands--over 50 million.

3. Was it scripture?

Wisdom 3:1

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them.

No, but quite apt for today.

4. Maybe St. Augustine?

"God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them."

- Augustine of Hippo, City of God

Not it, but so true.

5. Maybe framed in my bedroom?

Bingo.

A wonderful priest and dear friend who gave the homily at our wedding Mass framed this pre-Vatican II Exhortation Before Marriage for us as a gift. A short snippet:

No greater blessing can come to your married life than pure conjugal love, loyal and true to the end. May, then, this love with which you join your hands and hearts today never fail, but grow deeper and stronger as the years go on. And if true love and the unselfish spirit of perfect sacrifice guide your every action, you can expect the greatest measure of earthly happiness that may be allotted to man in this vale of tears. The rest is in the hands of God.

 In marriage and in life, I know this holds true. Being a pro-life person means showing "the unselfish spirit of perfect sacrifice" in our every action.

It means showing compassion and love. It means changing laws and donating diapers. It means sharing the truth that abortion hurts women and ends a life. It means mentoring young moms and providing free babysitting. It means doing everything possible to "care for life":

“All of us must care for life, cherish life, with tenderness, warmth…to give life is to open (our) heart, and to care for life is to (give oneself) in tenderness and warmth for others, to have concern in my heart for others.

Caring for life from the beginning to the end. What a simple thing, what a beautiful thing..So, go forth and don’t be discouraged. Care for life. It’s worth it.”

–  from a homily in 2005 by Cardinal Bergoglio celebrating Aug. 31  feast of St. Raymond Nonnatus, patron saint of expectant mothers, newborns

The rest is in the hands of God.

/ linking up with Hallie.