This post and video are too good not to share. Read the post, then watch the video at the end. The message is beyond powerful.
We are not called to win by perfect human standards, but we are called to finish the race.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Measuring Up
I wonder if it is a natural component of our humanism- that tendency to compare ourselves to others. Comparing isn't always bad, I think, if we use it as a motivation for setting reasonable goals for ourselves in areas we need to improve, and if it causes us to praise the good the Lord has done in others.
But when does comparing become a detriment to our mature self-improvement? When it gets us down. When it causes us to beat ourselves up about it. When it prevents us from doing God's will, out of fear of failure.
Humility is a true virtue: recognizing who we are before God, and the reality of what we are not capable of achieving without His help. However, humility needs to be accompanied by Hope in the Lord. We have to hope in His grace. We have to believe that for God, nothing is impossible, including what He can achieve THROUGH us, if we allow Him.
I don't think I am particularly smart in the academic sense. I got good grades in school (I even graduated Cum Laude), but looking back I think I was just good at passing the teacher and passing the test...not necessarily at assimilating and applying the "knowledge" that the education and high grades claimed to define in me. I do not find my grades that I achieved in college and the 1.5 years of graduate school courses to be a good assessment of how I really "measure up" in society. What do I have to rate myself by? The human tendency is to look at others like me, and see how well they remember, assimilate, and apply the things they learn, and how quickly they can recall intricate facts on the fly. I praise the Lord for these gifts in them, for I know He can use them well! But me? I am not good at remembering things. I can sound smart about the things I do remember...but according to my assessment I am far from being as advanced as others.
This has really been getting me down lately. You see, the Lord has very clearly asked me to study toward something. And that something requires a lot of applied knowledge. I have many doubts swarming in the back of my mind. Will I be able to adequately serve in this area? Will the knowledge and application just come to me? How will I measure up in this field? How will I fully be able to serve the souls under my care when I cannot recall important necessary facts as quickly as others can?
Yet, I know deep in my heart that if the Lord calls, He provides. I have no idea why He would call someone without all those wonderful gifts that I think are necessary for this field. And so I find myself asking, "Why me, Lord? What can I do?" Deep in the depths of my soul, I hear His answer, "Because I gave you the gift of Faith, and you trust me, and you love deeply." It is true that "Faith" seems to be my primary gift of the Holy Spirit...the Lord has made that much clear to me. But...I love? I am so imperfect at love. But loving IS something I can do. I can care for these souls with the love of Christ. And that love can fill the void of whatever details I may or may not "know." And that love can motivate me to perfect my weaknesses, knowing how it pleases the One I love.
Every year, my Regnum Christi teammates and I each draw a "patron card" that will be ours for that year. The Holy Spirit is truly at work here. Last Wednesday, with a prayer to the Holy Spirit, I drew mine. It didn't make sense to me right away (in terms of why the Holy Spirit intended that particular card for me). But typing this blog post, it suddenly makes enormous sense why the Holy Spirit selected this virtue and saint for me at this time.
At the top of the card, is the Virtue in bold print, followed by the definition, a prayer, and a quote by the accompanying patron saint for the year:
Love of God
Charity seizes our entire being, and by means of love, casts it into God. Charity makes man tend to God by uniting his affection to God in such a way that man no longer lives for himself, but for God.
Prayer: O Lord, grant that I may live my life in Your divine friendship.
"I am God's, He created me and is my beginning and my end."- Saint Teresa of the Andes. Feast day April 12th.
Yesterday, I did a little research on Saint Teresa of the Andes. I found many inspiring details about her faith and her life, the most interesting (to me) of which was probably her desire to please God in everything she did. It particularly noted that school did not come easy for her, but she threw herself into her studies because it would please God. She also sought to serve ALL souls around her, in her home, school, apostolic life, and later the convent, seeking only THEIR happiness.
Sounds pretty applicable to what I'm expressing here. I pray for an increase in Love of God this year. A love that makes me no longer live for myself, but totally and completely for God. A love that motivates my entire being, so that I can more fully accomplish the task set before me, living every aspect and all facets of my vocation to love in everything I do.
But when does comparing become a detriment to our mature self-improvement? When it gets us down. When it causes us to beat ourselves up about it. When it prevents us from doing God's will, out of fear of failure.
Humility is a true virtue: recognizing who we are before God, and the reality of what we are not capable of achieving without His help. However, humility needs to be accompanied by Hope in the Lord. We have to hope in His grace. We have to believe that for God, nothing is impossible, including what He can achieve THROUGH us, if we allow Him.
I don't think I am particularly smart in the academic sense. I got good grades in school (I even graduated Cum Laude), but looking back I think I was just good at passing the teacher and passing the test...not necessarily at assimilating and applying the "knowledge" that the education and high grades claimed to define in me. I do not find my grades that I achieved in college and the 1.5 years of graduate school courses to be a good assessment of how I really "measure up" in society. What do I have to rate myself by? The human tendency is to look at others like me, and see how well they remember, assimilate, and apply the things they learn, and how quickly they can recall intricate facts on the fly. I praise the Lord for these gifts in them, for I know He can use them well! But me? I am not good at remembering things. I can sound smart about the things I do remember...but according to my assessment I am far from being as advanced as others.
This has really been getting me down lately. You see, the Lord has very clearly asked me to study toward something. And that something requires a lot of applied knowledge. I have many doubts swarming in the back of my mind. Will I be able to adequately serve in this area? Will the knowledge and application just come to me? How will I measure up in this field? How will I fully be able to serve the souls under my care when I cannot recall important necessary facts as quickly as others can?
Yet, I know deep in my heart that if the Lord calls, He provides. I have no idea why He would call someone without all those wonderful gifts that I think are necessary for this field. And so I find myself asking, "Why me, Lord? What can I do?" Deep in the depths of my soul, I hear His answer, "Because I gave you the gift of Faith, and you trust me, and you love deeply." It is true that "Faith" seems to be my primary gift of the Holy Spirit...the Lord has made that much clear to me. But...I love? I am so imperfect at love. But loving IS something I can do. I can care for these souls with the love of Christ. And that love can fill the void of whatever details I may or may not "know." And that love can motivate me to perfect my weaknesses, knowing how it pleases the One I love.
Every year, my Regnum Christi teammates and I each draw a "patron card" that will be ours for that year. The Holy Spirit is truly at work here. Last Wednesday, with a prayer to the Holy Spirit, I drew mine. It didn't make sense to me right away (in terms of why the Holy Spirit intended that particular card for me). But typing this blog post, it suddenly makes enormous sense why the Holy Spirit selected this virtue and saint for me at this time.
At the top of the card, is the Virtue in bold print, followed by the definition, a prayer, and a quote by the accompanying patron saint for the year:
Love of God
Charity seizes our entire being, and by means of love, casts it into God. Charity makes man tend to God by uniting his affection to God in such a way that man no longer lives for himself, but for God.
Prayer: O Lord, grant that I may live my life in Your divine friendship.
"I am God's, He created me and is my beginning and my end."- Saint Teresa of the Andes. Feast day April 12th.
Yesterday, I did a little research on Saint Teresa of the Andes. I found many inspiring details about her faith and her life, the most interesting (to me) of which was probably her desire to please God in everything she did. It particularly noted that school did not come easy for her, but she threw herself into her studies because it would please God. She also sought to serve ALL souls around her, in her home, school, apostolic life, and later the convent, seeking only THEIR happiness.
Sounds pretty applicable to what I'm expressing here. I pray for an increase in Love of God this year. A love that makes me no longer live for myself, but totally and completely for God. A love that motivates my entire being, so that I can more fully accomplish the task set before me, living every aspect and all facets of my vocation to love in everything I do.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
The Lord works in Mysterious Ways
...yet, if you're eyes are open, you may find those seemingly mysterious ways are more obvious! But often in our busy lives we walk with our eyes closed. Our mind is busy thinking of the next thing on our list (or the next 10 things on our list).
This is especially true in the life of a mother with young children. If we mother and wife and house keep with our spiritual eyes closed, though, then we will miss the full vision scope of the beautiful portrait that is our life! And how the Artist does love when His whole work is appreciated.
Are you aware of God's action in your daily life? Are you aware that He is ALWAYS present, with you at every moment, regardless of whether you choose to acknowledge Him or not? Its worth pondering. We should always be evaluating our spiritual eyesight.
Jesus, my Lord, open my eyes to the wonders of your Love. Reveal to me the countless ways you shower me with love, through my home, through my children, through circumstances, friends, events...you are always there. Draw my soul into you, Lord. How easily the eyes of my soul become unfocused. Teach me to come to you daily, in private prayer and meditation, and to better frequent your Holy Sacraments, which are Your healing tools, O' Great Physician.
Open my eyes, Lord. I want to see you. I want to see you in the joys, the smiles, the tears, the moments when I feel like I'm going to break. You are always there.
Thank you for loving me, sweet Jesus. Teach me to love you more.
This is especially true in the life of a mother with young children. If we mother and wife and house keep with our spiritual eyes closed, though, then we will miss the full vision scope of the beautiful portrait that is our life! And how the Artist does love when His whole work is appreciated.
Are you aware of God's action in your daily life? Are you aware that He is ALWAYS present, with you at every moment, regardless of whether you choose to acknowledge Him or not? Its worth pondering. We should always be evaluating our spiritual eyesight.
Jesus, my Lord, open my eyes to the wonders of your Love. Reveal to me the countless ways you shower me with love, through my home, through my children, through circumstances, friends, events...you are always there. Draw my soul into you, Lord. How easily the eyes of my soul become unfocused. Teach me to come to you daily, in private prayer and meditation, and to better frequent your Holy Sacraments, which are Your healing tools, O' Great Physician.
Open my eyes, Lord. I want to see you. I want to see you in the joys, the smiles, the tears, the moments when I feel like I'm going to break. You are always there.
Thank you for loving me, sweet Jesus. Teach me to love you more.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Life goes on...and what a joy it is!
A few glances down this post, and you'll see why I have not posted recently! We were away for part of the Christmas holiday. My husband was off grad school and we were soaking up all the wonderful extra time with him. I am so blessed by my amazing husband!
A few days before Christmas, during a play date, our middle daughter fell into the coffee table, and ended up with stitches at the ER. You can see her stitches front and center on Christmas day. How I made it almost 6 years of children before this happened is a mystery to me...although I hear from friends that its because I have girls:)
We just received the surprising news that after 3 beautiful and amazing daughters, we have a son on the way! Of course, we would have greatly welcomed the gift of another daughter. This is, though, a neat and exciting "first" for us, after 8 years of marriage. He is due in May! Of course, we are busy preparing for our family to grow as the Lord expands our hearts! There are clothes to sort through, bedrooms to rearrange, and of course, since I'm totally nesting, A LOT of painting to be done!
The Lord has given me wonderful grace and appreciation for each of my children lately- so much so that I've fallen in love all over again with each one. Such delicate little souls in my care. Together, we have been enjoying discovering the great code that is the written word. My girls love to be read to, and the oldest has taken to attempting to decipher random words that she sees when we are out and about. She calls it her "Secret code" and says she is discovering the "key!" Yes, this analogy is of her own creation.
Another recent development is that the Lord has called me to take a big first step in a direction I thought impossible at this stage of my life: I am beginning birth doula training and studies. I have no expectations of being able to attend more than maybe a birth every other month or so, but after much discernment, and sure signs and doors opening I am confident the Lord is directing my steps. Its all for His glory, after all...not for mine. I cannot begin to describe the ways in which He's opening doors. Perhaps He won't use these skills for decades to come, until long after my kids are grown and gone...but it is evident to me that He intends this as part of my personal formation...for some reason...only He knows. I humbly step into this unknown.
So, I am preparing for my one evening a week workshop that begins soon, by writing, reading, and studying. The great thing is that this study has given me something personal to strive for and work on after the kids go to bed the several nights a week my husband is gone (as opposed to zoning out in front of purposeless TV or movies). I am enjoying reading by flashlight as I sit near my 1 year old (who falls asleep nearby), and doing my other research and responsibilities after the kids are asleep. This also encourages me to have my household duties accomplished by then...either that, or I study in between loads of laundry.
In addition to this, I've been asked to provide Natural Family Planning information and support to the women that my midwives serve in their practice. I've had to brush up on my NFP studies and have been gathering brochures and books that will be helpful in this ministry. I'll be hosting an informational session soon for these mothers. I cannot help but put in a plug here for how blessed I am by the amazing women I have met through my midwife's practice (including my midwife)...these women have taught me much about life, birth, mothering, and most importantly, faith and trust in God.
Wow, typing this out makes it really seem like a lot. Come to think of it, though, as I've been seeking growth in these areas the rest of my life has become more organized. Its a funny phenomenon...seems counter-intuitive. You'd think that more "stuff" means more stress and chaos. On the contrary, when I become more busy doing God's will (as opposed to becoming more busy for my own self-seeking purposes, outside of His will), He provides the grace for better use of time and better balance in all areas of life. I am, after all, first and foremost a Daughter of the Lord, wife and mother comes second to that, and anything else is extra. But, the Lord can and does call us to do things that we didn't imagine possible. I certainly wasn't seeking extra apostolate, or "work" outside the home...He's just evidently led me to this ministry, and at any point in time He may shut some of those doors again and say "not right now," and I'm okay with that. I sincerely want only to do His will.
Thank you for reading. Pray for me to do God's will always!
A few days before Christmas, during a play date, our middle daughter fell into the coffee table, and ended up with stitches at the ER. You can see her stitches front and center on Christmas day. How I made it almost 6 years of children before this happened is a mystery to me...although I hear from friends that its because I have girls:)
We just received the surprising news that after 3 beautiful and amazing daughters, we have a son on the way! Of course, we would have greatly welcomed the gift of another daughter. This is, though, a neat and exciting "first" for us, after 8 years of marriage. He is due in May! Of course, we are busy preparing for our family to grow as the Lord expands our hearts! There are clothes to sort through, bedrooms to rearrange, and of course, since I'm totally nesting, A LOT of painting to be done!
The Lord has given me wonderful grace and appreciation for each of my children lately- so much so that I've fallen in love all over again with each one. Such delicate little souls in my care. Together, we have been enjoying discovering the great code that is the written word. My girls love to be read to, and the oldest has taken to attempting to decipher random words that she sees when we are out and about. She calls it her "Secret code" and says she is discovering the "key!" Yes, this analogy is of her own creation.
Another recent development is that the Lord has called me to take a big first step in a direction I thought impossible at this stage of my life: I am beginning birth doula training and studies. I have no expectations of being able to attend more than maybe a birth every other month or so, but after much discernment, and sure signs and doors opening I am confident the Lord is directing my steps. Its all for His glory, after all...not for mine. I cannot begin to describe the ways in which He's opening doors. Perhaps He won't use these skills for decades to come, until long after my kids are grown and gone...but it is evident to me that He intends this as part of my personal formation...for some reason...only He knows. I humbly step into this unknown.
So, I am preparing for my one evening a week workshop that begins soon, by writing, reading, and studying. The great thing is that this study has given me something personal to strive for and work on after the kids go to bed the several nights a week my husband is gone (as opposed to zoning out in front of purposeless TV or movies). I am enjoying reading by flashlight as I sit near my 1 year old (who falls asleep nearby), and doing my other research and responsibilities after the kids are asleep. This also encourages me to have my household duties accomplished by then...either that, or I study in between loads of laundry.
In addition to this, I've been asked to provide Natural Family Planning information and support to the women that my midwives serve in their practice. I've had to brush up on my NFP studies and have been gathering brochures and books that will be helpful in this ministry. I'll be hosting an informational session soon for these mothers. I cannot help but put in a plug here for how blessed I am by the amazing women I have met through my midwife's practice (including my midwife)...these women have taught me much about life, birth, mothering, and most importantly, faith and trust in God.
Wow, typing this out makes it really seem like a lot. Come to think of it, though, as I've been seeking growth in these areas the rest of my life has become more organized. Its a funny phenomenon...seems counter-intuitive. You'd think that more "stuff" means more stress and chaos. On the contrary, when I become more busy doing God's will (as opposed to becoming more busy for my own self-seeking purposes, outside of His will), He provides the grace for better use of time and better balance in all areas of life. I am, after all, first and foremost a Daughter of the Lord, wife and mother comes second to that, and anything else is extra. But, the Lord can and does call us to do things that we didn't imagine possible. I certainly wasn't seeking extra apostolate, or "work" outside the home...He's just evidently led me to this ministry, and at any point in time He may shut some of those doors again and say "not right now," and I'm okay with that. I sincerely want only to do His will.
Thank you for reading. Pray for me to do God's will always!
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