Fr. Steve’s updates

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I went up to the clinic for another blood draw today, and the white blood cell count must be climbing back to normal because they didn’t have to call back this time.

I’m feeling physically better each day, as I build up before the next cycle of chemo, but the biggest drawback is lack of energy, motivation and oomph.

When I feel really sick, I don’t feel guilty about not accomplishing much. But, now that I don’t feel “sick,” it seems like I should be doing more. But, I tire out so easily.

When mom and dad called to check in on me, Dad reminded me my main job right now is to get well. That’s a very boring job at this stage of the game, but Dad is right!

After school today, the 1st – 3rd grade honor roll students had a pizza party to celebrate their success.

I initially sat with some of the boys as we gathered around the tables, but once the video started playing, they ditched me to move closer to the action on the TV screen.

After a few minutes, two tender-hearted girls – Sasha and Jayda – saw I was sitting alone. They moved their chairs over to keep me company.  We watched some of the movie but also talked about school and families and many things.

How often I’m impressed by the kindness of a child!

The girls reminded me the importance of looking around a gathering and seeing who might be feeling alone or left out and reaching out to them.

Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph's Indian School, our privately-funded programs for Lakota (Sioux) children in need have evolved over 90 years of family partnership, experience and education. Because of generous friends who share tax-deductible donations, Native American youth receive a safe, stable home life; individual counseling and guidance; carefully planned curriculum based on Lakota culture and individual student needs and tools to help build confidence, boost self-esteem and improve cultural awareness. All of this helps children to live a bright, productive, possibility-filled future.

8 thoughts on “Fr. Steve’s updates”

  1. Fr. Steve, The little girls that sat with you at the pizza party are wise beyond their yrs. and are very right. God does send his angels to minister to us even dressed as little girls.

    Love and prayers,
    Sue Kleck

  2. Father Steve
    Lack of energy is to be expected but it will come back in time. Your dad and mom are right, aren’t they always? ha! lots of snow on the way here in pa. I hope your weekend goes great for you. keep smiling and hang in there. Michael Clapper

  3. It is so good to get these messages and know where you are on your journey. Often people who are going thru similar circumstances don’t know how to talk to friends and family and loved ones don’t know how much to ask or comment on, to the one going thru such a strange country with no map to guide them. That came out weird but you know what I mean I hope.

    On the times you feel better, the children seem to give you something special, what a blessing to be among them.

    Keep fighting, Father

  4. Dear Father Steve: With millions of tears, and at least as many prayers, I wish you a full recovery. With all the love surrounding you, I’m sure you can fight this good fight.

  5. FATHER SPEPHEN
    you have all ways been there for the kids
    and all so me reaching out for when we have paind and needing careing now it is we and God the father of us all who whant to be there for you in your time of pain and healing we just care for you in our owen ways to pay you back for the love and careing we have gotten from you .

    I beleave God made a lot of people with differant gifts like know others with pain be it in there hearts and souls plus what
    they try ti hide wich I do like a child and like the bible says we need to be child like to know the truth to the heart of god
    hope my thoughts to him are helping you .
    Hugs Todd

  6. Your Dad is absolutely right. Don’t look at this as lost time. Trying to heal sometimes means doing nothing at all but being quiet in your mind, body and spirit. Wait till this is past. Your energy will astound you!

  7. Steve,

    Your message is clear. God is reminding you to take care of yourself, honor your heart and soul and care for the vessel He has provided you while in this world. We must first love ourselves so that we have even more love for others. This is now your time to care for yourself, as you have so tenderly cared for everyone around you. This will give insight to recognize those in need and in the way to give them comfort. There are always lessons to learn.
    Praying for your recovery,
    Stella

  8. Dear Fr. Steve, I was so surprized to learn in today’s mail that you are ill, please accept my deepest concern.

    I always open anything from St. Joseph’s Indian School and I don’t always send money and enjoy seeing how involved and committed you are to all the children and their beautiful art work and cute photos…you are always smiling and look so caring as if you really enjoy what you are doing and it shows in your face and that of the children’s faces.

    I am not what you would call super religious and had a catholic father, a baptist mother, and a Lutheran grandmother (mostly grandma went to church) and I attended thru elementary school in whatever local church there was and dropped out of all of this at age 10. I am very spiritual and sort of self made in my thoughts regarding religion, especially the golden rule with little bits and pieces of different religions and a touch zen and peacefulness.

    My uncle passed away two years ago and my mother October 8, 2009 (I flew to California for 2 days, the first day she had the usual look of hate towards me even after 10 years+ and at 10 a.m. the next morning I didn’t give up and stood by her bed with her hospice care coming and going and she reached out to me and winked saying, “hi sweetheart” and I winked back and said, “that’s the nicest thing you could have said to me”; my mission was complete in saying good-bye to her and we had made peace and that’s all I wanted to do and it worked). My parents didn’t really want me but I knew someday I would grow up and move away and somehow have my own life and do.

    It really hits home reading the children’s stories with their struggle to survive in unhappy situations, my heart goes out to them and I’ve been there. I really appreciate your letter saying I am mentioned in the daily prayers and I appreciate that very much.

    I write from my heart whatever that is that flows out, I feel this is the spiritual part of me and I’ve grown slowly closer to God, asking for advice and protection and can receive his messages better now (looking back now I realize he was communicating all the time but I didn’t know it and usually followed his advice).

    I will send prayers up for you and want you to get well, you still have a lot of work to do with the children that you care about so much. You are a very valuable person to your cause.

    Please hurry up and get well you are needed by many and take care.

    Camille Reid

Leave a Reply to todd Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *