Restoring The Years Which The Locusts Have Eaten

By Claire De Brit

The author of this little life story, Claire De Brit, has been through her own spiritual journey, a journey which at times involve darkness and suffering. But in recent years, Claire feels that she has come out into the light. Her youngest child made a decision which Claire felt was going to destroy her life. This new light helped Claire know what to do. Here she tells us the simple tale which will mean so much to some mothers and fathers who read this.

When I was a child my family said the rosary every night – on our knees, faces into chairs and off we went. My memory of this is of impatience and feelings of utter boredom. I was restless and ill-at-ease. As I grew up and eased away from the family circle I also eased away from the rosary. In school when the nuns recited it I automatically turned off; I had absolutely no interest at all and found it long and boring. Then I married, and had three children and we never recited the rosary. However as time went on and I began to slow down a little bit I would hear the rosary prayed in my local church. It seemed to have a new sound and I felt drawn a little at a time.

Helpless

Well, one day my youngest daughter left home to live with a man I knew wasn’t for her-- he is a good person but too old and in a different world. I tried everything to prevent her making this very serious mistake in her life and it was of no effect. Gradually it dawned on me that I could do no more. I felt helpless and powerless and started to pray. The thought of the rosary came into my mind. I had an old rosary beads from the years back and I felt I couldn’t get them into my hands fast enough. And thus I prayed feeling each bead intensely and surrendered my beautiful daughter to the greatest Mother of all -the Mother of God. I knew that Our Lady had taken away my fears and that my daughter was safe. My job was to let her go into the hands of our Heavenly Mother.

Inner Light

The next day I was in my local church and heard the rosary being recited. I joined in and it seemed to come alive for me. I was beginning to understand the inner light of the prayers. Each day I am learning more of the beauty and the story of the life of Jesus and His Mother and gradually I feel healed and the words of prophet Joel come to mind; “I restore the years which the locusts have eaten.” (Joel 2:24)