How to explain how we can meet God, experience his love and protection, and feel blessed?
When you are depressed, worried, restless… and, in a short time, experience miraculous answers.
God has come to my rescue many times, either directly, or through people, including strangers.
The Almighty is my Miracle Worker. I say so, because, from the time I have given my Lord the first place in my life, surrendered my life and my family to Him and accepted His will as my will, He has helped me to look at things positively and live my life whole-heartedly, even in the midst of storms in my life. His grace has sustained me. I am grateful to God for the gift of my Life.
I am sixty-six, a retired teacher who taught for thirty-one years. I am content and living a fruitful and fulfilled life, as a mother, grandmother and a happy human being. I praise and thank God for the good and not so good experiences I have encountered. They have made me God-fearing, optimistic, stronger, wiser and to accept life as it comes cause ‘Every thing will pass.’ He assures me of this.
As Psalm 27, 1 tell us, ‘The Lord is the strength of my life.’
My Life Journey
I consider myself very blessed to have had a happy, simple and comfortable childhood. I lived in Bhusawal. My parents are my human God—humble, hardworking and dedicated—who brought up their seven children with the utmost care and sacrifice, and showed us God’s loving face. This was the foundation for my life.
At sixteen, I joined CSU, then AICUF, organised by our parish in Hubli. There I attended various programmes, like the Youth Convention, Moderators Course, Transactional Analysis, thanks to Fr. Anthony Lobo. Priests like the late former priest Fr Oriol Pujol, Fr Jude and Fr Sidney were instrumental in lighting that hidden spark within me. They transformed me from a timid shy child into a bold, vibrant achiever, a child of God.
At twenty-one, I started to argue, question and doubt God and the Bible. Fr John D’souza, a charismatic from Mumbai, put my fears and doubts to rest when, after a long discussion, he said to me, “Rozanna, no one, not even the Pope, will be able to answer all your questions. Faith in God and religion are built on Faith. This can be understood and felt only with your heart, and not your head.” My thinking immediately changed; my faith increased. Many thought I would join the convent. I clearly remember, While making my six-day retreat, Fr Coyne from Goregaon Seminary, Mumbai, told me, “You can be a true witness to God, either as a Mother Superior or as a lay person.” And sure enough, my Lord gave me ample opportunities to serve Him as I reach out to people in His name, helping not only family members and relatives, but also disturbed teenagers, troubled parents, marriages on the rocks, those who have lost faith, etc. All this is because He resides in me. I have continuously been inspired, motivated and guided by my Sister principals and priests and I deem it my responsibility to do the same with joy, trusting in His hand.
Balancing Home Life and Teaching
Balancing family life and my work at school was extremely tough, challenging and demanding. I had to handle both fronts to the best of my ability. God would help me out always. I wanted to be a role model at home and in school. I hardly faced major hurdles in bringing up my three children. They were responsible, industrious, humble and independent, never demanding. The main credit goes to my husband for being my right and left hand, always supportive and helpful. I took pride in doing all my household chores, moulding my children and making them God-centred, giving them their space and my time. Daily rosary, reading the bible and reflection, dialoguing together with household chores—all this was our everyday routine. Just as the Lord left his ninety-nine sheep and went to bring the one lost sheep, I too went through a similar situations, but my Lord lifted me on his shoulders and walked me through.
I love my home and my second home—my school. If you plan things out systematically, get the cooperation of your family, and God reigns in your home, nothing prevents you from doing justice at both fronts. Thus, I was able to concentrate on my passion—my vocation of teaching. I received one hundred percent support from all my Sister principals. This made me step out of my comfort zone and give my all to my teaching and students. My Lord was there. ‘I trust in the promises of my Lord Jesus with all my heart and I lean not unto my own understanding/ ideas/ experience.(Proverbs 3:5) Thus I was able to balance my home and school—although I must say that at times it was extremely stressful.
What Makes Me Happy and Sad
I delight in small and big things. To see my husband and children and my seven grandchildren happy and content gives me utmost happiness. Helping them out when requested makes me feel so complete. The same goes with my relatives and near and dear ones; their happiness is my happiness. I feel satisfied when I give my 100% in all I do and say. I enjoy cleaning, stitching, cooking, gardening and doing odd jobs at home. I create work for myself, as I cannot see myself idle. Playing word games and listening to music gives added satisfaction. I feel blessed when the Lord uses me to help those in need, empathizing and counselling them. I feel blessed when I can convert a negative situation into a positive one. This is the Lord’s doing.
I am used to talking to God and myself, and this keeps me going. When I am misunderstood and wrongly judged and accused, that saddens me. When I am not forgiven by someone I dearly love, it tears me apart. At that time I sing the hymn, “In His time.” Everything will happen in His good time. When I am helpless and unable to help anyone in need, it makes me uncomfortable. I then lift all this up to the Almighty.
Overcoming Difficulties
‘My Peace I give unto you…let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27)
My first principal, Sr Ann Henrietta, gave me a bookmark which read: “Lord, help me to remember that nothing is going to happen today that You and I together cannot handle.” This has stood me in good stead. God and Life have been good to me on the whole and, when I was confronted with bumps on the path, He stood by me. I did hit rock bottom, which took a terrible toll on me, but I was able to look at it optimistically, later.
I was forced to leave my twenty-six-days-old baby daughter with my parents in Hubli as I was on company visa and had to return to Dubai immediately after my delivery. This was my biggest mistake, though I had no option. My daughter experienced anger, rebellion, hatred and rejection, and it kept building as years passed. I did all I could to heal my daughter. At that crucial time the Lord visited me through counsellors, priests, my principals and many others. I respect my daughter and her feelings and her subtle anger and hatred towards me. I pray for her healing and am learning to live with it. I thank God for His grace and I know my God will not let me down. I am now able to cope with any eventuality and tough situations—an accident, health issues of my husband and grandson. The pain and struggle are there, but somehow I experience peace within. Who else can give me that Peace?
Lessons I Have Learnt
Life teaches us innumerable lessons—through nature, experiences of others or your very own. One needs to be awake, aware, accept, act and move on. I am always open to constructive or destructive criticism. I have learnt that:
- If I want my Lord to hear me and help me, I need to be clean in mind, heart and lips;
- Accept His will as my will;
- Trust in Him totally;
- Give my 100% in all I do and say to experience satisfaction;
- Accept myself as I am and love my self, respect others and not judge anyone
- God speaks to me through people and I on my part need to reach out to others;
- Look at things positively and accept the inevitable;,
- LOVE, LOVE, LOVE…keep giving of yourself and never expect anything in return;
- Bless those who give you and bless those who do not give you too.
I end by saying I am truly blessed by God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit for His tender mercies to me and all whom I love, above all for the His gift of my life, which I live to the fullest in my own little way.
Rozanna Rodricks
(Rozanna Rodricks is a retired English teacher. She now enjoys a happy life in the company of her three well-settled children and her doting seven grandchildren. And still in touch with her second love—teaching)
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