Before Sister Rosalie entered the Cenacle, she lived in a house on the Gulf coast with two little dogs named Penny and Black Bart. Whereas Penny was ladylike and prudent, Black Bart was an adventurer. Once when he was still a puppy, an adventure led Black Bart to an unfortunate encounter with a prickly pear, from which he came away with a spine in his paw.
The poor creature was miserable, hobbling about on three legs, but every time Rosalie tried to reach him to pull the spine out, he backed away. He knew that what she was going to do would hurt.
At that point Rosalie was powerless to help him. But as she watched him, something happened. Black Bart became very still, and she could see him come to a decision. He then hobbled over to her and went totally limp in her arms. Rosalie was able to remove the prickly pear spine, and all was well.
Loving God,
when I am anxious,
when I am in pain,
when I fear loss of control,
may I go limp in your arms,
trusting your wisdom,
and surrendering myself entirely to your loving care.
Amen.
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.
O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time on and forevermore.(Psalm 131)