(Bits and Pieces of Emails I received in the past week—meant for all of us who pray together)

“Kept you and the group in our prayers last night with our Thursday evening rosary.  Thinking of you and yours and thanking Our Lord for the graces he has provided to make us one through Him.”

“Please keep us in your prayers. Our son is leaving the nest to go to grad school. It seems fine with him, but my heart is tearing apart. I would like prayers to keep him safe and for me to keep my senses.  PS He is still going to church, so prayers work. Thanks again!”

“Thanks, --I needed that encouragement [referring to the Mantle update of July 16]”

“It is so comforting to know that so many are praying with me—and I’m halfway around the world from most of you.”

(from an email that’s making the rounds on the Internet)

TINY FROGS:   There once was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants. The race began.  No one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top
of the tower. You heard statements such as: "Oh, WAY too difficult!" "Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
     The tiny frogs began collapsing, one by one, except for those, who were climbing higher and higher.  The crowd continued to yell,"It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"
     More tiny frogs got tired and gave up.  But one continued higher and higher and higher.  This one wouldn't give up!
     At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!
     All of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?  A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal? 

     It turned out that the winner was deaf!
    The moral of this story ? Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic because they take your heart’s dreams and wishes away! Always be
positive!  Don’t give up! And above all, be DEAF when people tell YOU something is impossible.  Always think, God and I can do this!

NEW ON THE WEB SITE

               Prayer Groups:  Now, you can find a list of prayer groups that pray for prodigals or post the information about your prayer group on the web site.

               Back issues of The Mantle:  Previous Online Prayer Group updates have been archived on the web site.  Specific prayer requests have not been posted for viewing by the general public.  The MM Group feels these are personal and should remain private and shared only within our online group.

"SILENT STRENGTH" PRESENTATION INFORMATION:

  “Silent Strength: Has Someone You Love Left the Church?” will be presented in February at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Overland Park, Kansas, and at  in October at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Olathe, Kansas..
               If you would like more information about getting this talk scheduled in your parish, please email maryann@marianmantle.com

NEWSLETTER

               We are working on the next issue of the Newsletter.  If you have something you with to include, please contact us.

"SILENT STRENGTH” NOW AVAILABLE ON TAPE AND CD

               The talk is now available on tape or cd and can be ordered from the web site.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORY**
--If you are seeing prayers answered, we want to hear about it.**
--Do you have a question you would like to ask the group to answer?**
**Please email maryann@marianmantle.com or phone 913-526-8977.  If no one
answers, please leave your name and phone number and a good time to return
your call and MaryAnn will call you back as soon as possible.