Casting all your cares upon God, for God cares for you! (1 Peter 5:7)

Shortly after Mary Manachi’s second child, Marylou, was born, she was diagnosed with Cooley’s anemia, which requires a blood transfusion every two weeks and is usually fatal before the age of twenty. Assured by physicians that this condition was extremely rare, Mary and her husband had another baby. At six months, Rosemarie was also diagnosed with the same disorder, and later, her son, George, was also born with Cooley’s. Sadness gripped Mary and her husband.

One day, Mary walked into Rosemarie’s room and found her making a beautiful pin to sell at a craft show. “I’m going to earn all I can toward college,” Rosemarie remarked with excitement. Then a teacher phoned and told Mary that Rosemarie had written as the thing she was most thankful for: “Good health!”

Mary took another look at her children around her and discovered that each was embracing life to the fullest they could. George was talking of becoming a geologist. Marylou was earning a place on the honor roll and was diligently practicing her piano. Mary finally concluded, If they are going to love life so much...am I to love life less?

Sometimes our burdens seem great. It helps at those times to remember those with greater burdens who carry them as “being too small” to become worries.

Most Holy Creator, may our burdens be light as we enjoy and live out the life You have given each of us!