By Kristine Schroeder
Lessons Learned
“Have no anxiety, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your request known to God.” Philippians 4:6
On a recent family vacation in Voyageurs National Park, younger cousins were quizzing 20-year-old Emma about the faint scar on her forehead. While she remembered little of that day, she relayed what she had heard over the years.
Her family, Jim, Amy, twins Zach and Emma, two-year-old Matthew and baby Noah, were enjoying a Father’s Day bike ride downtown by the Ohio River when her training wheels suddenly took an unexpected turn, and she careened down the rocky embankment toward the river. Amy scrambled down the steep slope and calmly reassured the still alert Emma while Jimmy phoned us.
Rushing to the river, we heard the wail of a siren and encountered three confused boys and a distraught father. Emma was rushed to St. Mary’s with a traumatic head injury. Jim and I took the little ones home anxiously awaiting news all the while praying for positive results. When Amy arrived, she said, “Emma has to be flown to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. They cannot treat her here.” It was worse than expected.
Mary (her other grandmother) and I volunteered to drive with Amy and her nursing six month old, while Jimmy flew with Emma to Cincinnati. On our way, we recited some Rosaries. Outwardly, Amy remained calm. Arriving at the hospital, the nurse, seeing our stricken faces, said the most reassuring words, “She is going to be alright. I would not tell you this if I didn’t believe it.” Although Emma’s head was bound in a turban-style bandage, she was talking and smiling. However, the ordeal wasn’t over yet.
Later that night, Dr. Maugins (a name I still recall), a neurosurgeon, informed us of the operation needed. After he left, we adults recited another Rosary and then all promptly fell asleep. When Dr. Maugins returned several hours later, he seemed surprised that we had slept. I’ve always been convinced that it was the grace of Mary’s prayer.
During Emma’s four days at Cincinnati Children’s, Noah was allowed in the hospital with Amy during waking hours. However, after 9 p.m., he had to spend his nights with us in a facility a 10 minute walk away. He was a nursing baby! Each night after putting Noah to bed, Mary and I recited another Rosary. Miraculously, Noah and we slept soundly. Yet another grace of the Virgin’s prayer.
Worry is part of our human nature. However, it usually serves no good purpose. Worry is a thief. It robs us of our peace, our sleep and our joy. Worry manipulates us. It stunts our growth, convincing us that our new goal is too difficult, too dangerous, too foolish, and so on. While everyone worries to some degree, the difference results from what do we do with our worries. Do we create insurmountable obstacles or offer our concerns to God in prayer?
I am not denying the need for caution. Caution tells us to investigate the possibilities of our undertaking and to prepare accordingly. Caution is important and, if not excessive, is necessary for a positive outcome. However, we cannot prepare for the unexpected. Prayer is our best ally.
In 2021, Jim had a triple bypass. Nine days before his surgery, we began saying the Surrender Novena, my favorite stress manager. The final night before surgery, as I was setting our alarm for 4 a.m., I wondered if we would rest at all. To our amazement, we quickly fell asleep only waking to the sound of our alarm. We had prayed, “Jesus, I surrender my life to you. You take care of it.” And, he did.
Prayer is the antidote to worry. While many great saints trusted totally in God’s providence, for most of us it is a lifelong quest accomplished only by praying unceasingly through trials and witnessing often God’s merciful graces when we ask.
After Emma’s return home, I asked Amy once if she worried more now than before. Her wise answer has stuck with me. “No,” she said, “I worry less now because I realize how little we are in control of our lives.” As Padre Pio advised, “Pray, hope and don’t worry.” Amen!