When you are knocked down, BOUNCE!

Life is really shocking sometimes.  Just when you feel so safe and secure, bammo!  The real test is to see how long it takes to get back up, because you know you will eventually have to get on with life.  As Mother Theresa said "It's more important to be faithful than it is to be successful."  So, when my life gets flipped upside down, I need to remember that I will get back up because I have Jesus and He makes me strong enough.  I would like the time between the being knocked down and the getting up to be a lot closer together.  I think that when I reach the point when I bounce, I will have arrived.  When I can get  hit with any and everything life has to offer that seems horrific, and just bounce right back, spending no time at all on the ground-- then, then I will have arrived at the point God had planned for me all along.  His plan is for me to bounce!

A Few Life Tips for My Kids

1.  When you are at the lowest point and everyone has left, and you feel you have no worth at all, pick up a crucifix, look at Jesus' face and his suffering body and remember this "That is how much you are worth."
2.  When you have worked really hard at putting a life's plan to work, and it all comes tumbling down, just know that this too is in God's will. 
3.  When you are in prayer constantly, and you are looking forward to the end result, and then suddenly it doesn't happen at all, just remember that some place along the journey God wanted you to learn something or teach someone, and that your joy is in His plan, not yours.

The Only True Love

I was lying in bed this morning talking to God and thinking about the loves in my  life.  My desire to be loved is so huge.  I can analyze this but may or may not be correct.  You cannot make anyone love you.  You can only love God and yourself and others.  That part you CAN control, and no one can interfere.  It's interesting that that is the only commandment Jesus gave us, to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves.  It is so draining, and so tiring and so sad and lonely to desire to be loved for so many years, and find that yearning in vane.  So the weight of the longing can easily be dispelled by turning to God, self and others to love in a perfect love.  To love without any longing for love returned is the perfect love.  This is called unconditional love.

Morning angst

I don't ever remember feeling happy to wake up and face the day.  All I think about when I wake up is "What do I have to do today."  Wouldn't it be great if I could wake up thanking God for another chance, if I could look at my day as a day that might yield my most awesome dreams come true, a glorious day in the day of the saints.  Now that would be a day to celebrate.  So, I will try to wake up in anticipation for an awesome day full of unbelievable happiness, fulfilled dreams, unexpected surprises of great proportions.  How happy I will be then!

Trusting Him

I wonder why it is so hard to trust God with my  life when He has proved over and over again how He will take care of me?  I was lying in bed this morning and looking at my curtains.  When I moved into this old house, I needed curtains, so I went to Walmart, and there were sets and sets of table cloths on sale, perfect for curtains.   Since this is an old old house, I bought several lace ones for the living room and dining room, and for my bedroom I found the perfect color of green to match my bed spread, for my office, I bought sheets.  For my kitchen, I wanted gingham, so got different colors of fabric, also on sale, for each window.  Everything probably came to under $20.  Now if I went today to look for them, there would be none because the timing isn't there. God knew the timing.  He had the perfect color, style, price for me back then in 2009.  So why do I doubt?  I think it's the same sin Adam and Eve suffered with-- wanting to be in control, do it my way, figure out my life on my terms.  So what is the lesson here?  I need to sit back in the easy chair God has provided, and let Him lead me.  His way is easy.  Why am I so stubborn?  Thank you Lord for never giving up on me.

No set time in God's plan

Since Jesus took his walk to the cross one step at a time, and His Father did not feel a need to time Him, so too I must get into the mind set of not looking to see how long a difficult situation will last.  Like St. Monica and her prayers for her son Augustine-- she prayed for 15 years that her son would return to the Lord, and when he did, he became one of the greatest saints of all time.  So, St. Monica, pray for me that I will finally stop looking at the length of time it takes for the difficulties in life to resolve.  I will only look to the Lord for comfort and peace, and let Him lead me to the best resolution possible.  "In His will is my peace."

Pain on the road

At mass today I was thinking how painful life is some times for friends and family and me.  So I was thinking about Jesus' walk to the cross.  His way to the cross took as long as it took.  He just took one step at a time.  So, in my pain and suffering with others that I love, I will remember that it will take as long as it takes and the way is one step at a time.

starting gait

I have been feeling excited/anxious about life.  My going to work for the Franciscans is not happening fast enough.  I feel like I am on the starting block and no one is firing the pistol.  God is teaching me patience.  I promised God I would go to daily mass when I am able.  I am learning His ways.  He is teaching me to put aside MY ways.  That is so dang hard.  Was that hard for Eve to do in the Garden?  Was that hard for Adam to do in the Garden?  We are all so much like our original parents.  We want to be like God, but we want to do it OUR way.  God says NO, you will do it my way, but he is gentle enough to whisper and nudge.  He never forces anything on us.  He just gently leads us back to the starting gait one more time and says-- WAIT FOR THE SHOT sweetie.

My spiritual journey

I have been wanting to write for some time.  It is a way to put down what I am thinking-- duh!  But this way, it stays.  When I think of something, it is gone usually, and it may have been "brilliant."  So today I am sharing a recent thought about living life without fear.  I got a picture in my mind of a big soft chair encompassing my whole body, a winged-back style, and it was here that I felt God say "Just relax, I'll take care of your life."  That is an awesome feeling to know that someone is taking care of it all-- I can relax in Him.