CSA REFLECTION: Thanks in all things
Since I experienced my personal encounter with God, I felt deep joy, gratitude and a burning calling to discipleship. This experience has taken me to serve the Lord everywhere I’ve lived, in El Salvador as well as the United States.
During my first years serving the Lord, I felt attracted to religious life, but God showed me that my real vocation was to be a wife and mother. The Lord sent me a husband who shares my passion for evangelization, and we have always been grateful to serve God as a couple.
Since the beginning of our marriage, we longed for the blessing of children and it happened. Two months after our wedding we found out we were expecting our first child. A girl!
However, when I reached the seventh month of my pregnancy I found myself dealing with severe preeclampsia. My daughter and I both experienced serious complications.
Our daughter, Galilea, was born at 32 weeks gestation, weighing 3 pounds. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which affects the right part of her body.
During this experience, we know God never left our side. We believe he has been there accompanying and comforting us through our family, friends and brothers in the faith, through doctors and teachers.
During these circumstances, we thanked God for Galilea’s life. Our faith reminded us what the Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
During her 7 years on this earth, Galilea has had to go through several medical interventions, as well as physical and academic challenges. We thank God and celebrate each one of the victories that Galilea has and will continue to conquer.
We trust the Lord will give us the wisdom, the love and everything we need to be the parents Galilea and her two younger brothers need.
The joy, gratitude and the calling to discipleship continue burning in my heart. Now with a new fire, we desire that our children will also be disciples of Christ.
Ilsi Palacios and her family are parishioners at St. Patrick in Sedalia.
