I love walking the Old City. We’ve been to all the attractions and museums in the past. But, I had not been to the Lighthouse and the beach. I thought we might see them this time. Wednesday morning we decided to start with a morning walk in the Old City, visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Leche, and attend Mass at the Mission of Nombre de Dios.
The Shrine is special to me. The Chapel is dedicated to Mary as the Mother of the Savior. Mothers and families have prayed here for centuries to blessed with children. Back in 1997 I wanted a second child. The doctors were not optimistic about me getting pregnant again. In April 1997 I visited the Shrine and prayed to God for another child. I asked Mother Mary to talk to her son Jesus about my request. I didn’t have to wait long for an answer. Within 30 days, I was pregnant with my youngest prince.
Twenty years later, this visit to the Shrine was to thank God for my sons and pray for their spiritual walks with Him as adults. I realize now this is part of closing the door behind me. I have raised my sons. I have kept my commitments in the Sacrament of marriage and vocation as a parent. I will always be here for my children; whether I am here on earth or in prayers from heaven. I released my children back into the Father’s care. Now they walk their own paths and seek their own council.
I walked out of the Chapel into brilliant sunshine. I looked behind me to the open doors of the Chapel. I felt the whoosh of the door to the past close again in my soul. I also felt the anticipation of something new in the light. When something ends, another journey begins.
This time I felt I was arm in arm with the Son of God. I was walking in his light, my Sonshine. His warmth infused my soul. I could sense a new path under my feet. Suddenly, I was tired. A good kind of tired. We stayed to enjoy the Mass at the Mission then, returned to Jaybird’s Inn to rest.
In the evening we headed to the Old City for the St. Augustine’s “Nights of Lights.” I have not visited St. Augustine at the holidays before, nor had I heard of the light displays. A couple of weeks ago, a friend asked if we were planning to see the lights. After hearing about it, I definitely wanted to see what the City had to offer. My friend described the sights as “walking through a Hallmark Movie.”
After finding parking, we walked through the Old City. White lights twinkled everywhere. My friend was right. It is amazing. It is like walking into a Christmas scene. There is a sense of wonder in the air.
The visitor’s website tells the tale of a Light Bandit loose in the City. The City hires a contractor to dress the city in white lights except for the central Christmas tree in the park. That tree is awash in a multitude of colors.
The Light Bandit switches out white bulbs for different colors. We read that we might find a green, yellow or red bulb here and there. The Light Bandit has never been caught… After dinner, we think we found his handy work on a balcony as we walked back to our car along the waterfront. Can you see the two red bulbs? Check out the close-up. What do you think?
On Thursday we thought about going to the beach for breakfast. A winter cold front was coming in with rain, wind and the potential for flooding. We never made it to the beach or the lighthouse. We will save that for another time. I did get some nice pictures of the Old City Streets in the rain.
“A Time for Everything…
1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:…3A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,” [Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 3 NIV]
This week was my time to let go of the past and heal as I walked in His Sonshine. It was my time to tear down the past and let Him build my future. This is the gift Jesus and my family gave to me this week. I am grateful for His blessings.
God Bless,
Milly
Milly Really! 