Glad it seems you are over the worst of it. Prayers that you and yours continue to strengthen! St. Therese, intercede for HH's family!
My sister's family, her husband's daughter from a previous marriage, and my brother all live with my dad. They were all sick through the last few weeks, one by one, except my dad. The last to be sick, my sister's husband's daughter, tested positive this morning for Covid. She just came down with a high fever and body aches last night. We've been waiting to meet up there for our family Christmas gift exchange (my other sister will drive up for it with her fiance and 1 year old son.) We were supposed to meet on Jan 5 but I asked to delay it another week. I'm hoping all the sickness will be over by then. I'm assuming Covid is what they've all had. (No one else got tested.) None of them are vaccinated and they prob only took vitamin C. They all had sore throat, a fever for a day or two, body aches, and some congestion. My 25-year-old brother took it the worst. He felt poorly for almost 2 weeks. The oldest of them was my sister's husband who is 60. No one had any breathing problems. It seems the interesting characteristic they all shared was seeming to get better after a few days, only to have the sore throat return again worse for a couple days. Everyone thought that was odd. Anyway, please pray it can clear out before we go over there and that my dad doesn't get sick. He is 56, smokes, and has tended to get long respiratory illnesses in the past. However, he had Covid already and never knew it, because he recently tested positive for Covid antibodies. My sister probably already had it too, last year, because she lost her sense of smell and taste for a couple weeks, as I did last year as well. My dad has a great attitude and believes he won't get sick at all. Oh and to update on my husband's brother who has Covid... it's been mild for him as well.. He is vaccinated.
I must admit I enjoy a good beer myself... It is my absolute favourite thing in the whole wide world! Had way too much over Christmas period. But, like you Padraig... I never spoke a cross word to anyone - ever, when enjoying a beer. If I ever did, I'd give it up. (Having one right now, actually - I'm off all day tomorrow, but playing golf at 10am with a few of the lads...I'll be having lunch with another beer or two tomorrow too, after we've played 18holes) I remember when I was young, my father - who himself liked a drink, but similarly, never spoke a cross word to anyone whilst on it, gave me great advice (my father is the wisest man I have ever known...). He told me two things with respect to 'the drink'. The first --- 'the drink is a gift from God, it loosens tongues, allows people to say what they otherwise might not'. And second --- 'the drink is a great servant, and a bad master; never - ever, let it be your master'. He was right on both counts. That advice never left me, I enjoy it to this very minute! But it will - with God's grace, always be my servant, and never my master. PS. I'm planning a dry January. That'll be tough...
I was what one might call a party animal up to the age of 23. That's the hard way to gain wisdom! Then the Good Lord got a hold of my heart! I still enjoy a good beer, wine, or scotch every once in a while, but I never exceed 1 or 2 drinks on any evening. And that might occur once a month. Besides, I've never needed a drink to loosen my tongue in public. Just ask my wife!
Ahhh you're taking me way too literally Mario, I was speaking about a loosened tongue with respect to the sharing of emotions related to affections. It is fairly easy for many to clear their throats. But less easy to tell a son or a daughter for example how proud we are of them, or of how much we love them etc. Well, this varies with culture. I think Americans, and I really don't mean to generalise here, are better at this. We Irish are not renowned for sharing our 'softer' side. In fact, many of us struggle with it. Maybe that's why God gave us the drink......
Thanks for that clarification, jackzokay! Goes to show that on a forum where facial expressions, tone of voice, and the delivery are not part of the package, a lack of understanding is understandable!
Our prayers are with everyone, we too have had our entire family come down with illness this year. Most of them vaccinated and half testing positive and the rest of us negative. Things seem to be improving now thankfully.
Prayers for all still suffering. I drink my home brew wine at the moment. I moderate it by not drinking on Wednesdays and Fridays and Lent. I am sorry I did not go of it for Advent, but I never thought. I know most Irish people are not into wine but it really does help the taste of food so much and I am trying to find time to cook and bake a lot more at the moment. But like everything else its about moderation and not going crazy.
May Our Lady, the most perfect of mothers, wrap you in her Mantle of Love. And since this is the "Bow Out" thread, for anyone who cares to know, I'm taking time off from MOG for 4-6 weeks. I've been asked to write a series of memoirs from my years in the Charismatic Renewal (1977-1990). These were the years that the Merciful Lord turned my life totally around and Our Lady's personal love for me enamored my heart. But far more than myself, I witnessed tremendous healings and conversion of many hearts. The Holy Spirit graduated from being an appendage of the Holy Trinity to the Person Who is the Worker of Wonders, and Who set my heart afire with the love of God, His Word, and His Church. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
