Unless You Become Like LIttle Children...

My daughter said to pick him up at 3 PM. That's when the school bus comes. I was at the bus stop before 3 PM, just in case the bus would arrive early.

3 o'clock came and no bus. I waited and waited and watched. I anticipated the bus coming at any time.

Finally! I saw the bus coming down the street. I was so eager to see my grandson whom I hadn't seen in quite some time. Then he got off the bus, he saw me, and he came running to me with arms wide open. 

I braced myself. He was running and I didn't want to get knocked over! And he gave me a most precious hug. Joy! 

"Hi! How are you? How was school today?" ...

Today I'm thinking about how God our Father is waiting for us. He is waiting for us to come to him with confidence and trust and with open arms and open hearts. He is waiting for our love, like a precious hug.

He longs to speak personally with each of us. We need to come running towards him to hear his words to us.

"How are you? How is your day?" He wants to hear from us. He wants us to know how very much he loves us and that he cares for each detail of our lives. And his love is everlasting.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." Jeremiah 31:3

Photo by Maximilian Simson on Unsplash

"Stop interrupting me!"

So often I am in the middle of doing something, and someone comes along and interrupts me. When I begin watching a favorite program, the phone rings... Just as I sit down to eat, the dog decides she needs to go out... I'm in the middle of a really good book and my husband needs help with something - now... I'm praying and someone walks in on me...etc., etc. It sometimes seems like my life is full of interruptions. Too often my response is to feel aggravated or resentful.

I became aware of this while reading Jacques Philippe's book Interior Freedom and how he describes St. Therese of Lisieux's perspective on being interrupted. She had very little "free time" in the convent, and just when she did find the time to write or to paint, someone would come in and ask for her help. She decided to choose interruptions in her life, to welcome them. Therefore she would not become aggravated or resentful. She remained in peace. When, however, no one would interrupt her, she accepted this as a "charming present" from the Lord.

Yesterday I decided that I, too, would welcome interruptions. And yesterday I was really challenged; it seemed like I was interrupted more than usual. I still felt somewhat resentful of the demands made on "my time," but I was reminded that "my time" is to serve others and not myself.

Lord Jesus, Thank you for the gift of time and for the opportunity to work on projects and to serve others. Please keep reminding me of the Scripture "the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve," (cf. Mark 10:45), and that if I am to follow you, I am also here to serve others, and not myself. To you be all the glory now and forever. Amen.

St. Therese of Lisieux, pray for us.

Photo by Nick Castelli on Unsplash

My Journey

Recently I had a complete set of scans. Results indicated no evidence of cancer. Wow. 

Having been diagnosed with 2 different kinds of cancer, and being successfully treated for both, I feel amazed and grateful. It's like I've been given a new opportunity to live a healthy life to its fullest. 

It's been a journey of faith in our Almighty God. 

Today I looked back at what I had posted on August 3, 2019, and I see this as true today as the day I had written it. Read about it here:

Journey

Thanks be to God.

Unstuck From the Muck

I'm eager to get my garden in. The other day I planted peas, beets, and onions. It was muddy from the recent rain.

As I tried to move away from the garden, I felt stuck. My garden shoe had sunk into the mud. Water was puddling around my feet. It was with real effort that I pulled my foot out of the mud. The shoe was filthy. I'd have to clean my shoes before going into the house.

This morning I read Colosians 1:13: He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son. I envisioned God pulling me up out of the muck of sin in which I was stuck. I am set free. With his Holy Spirit he cleanses me so that I am fit to dwell in his house. I no longer live in darkness, but I dwell in the kingdom of God. I live in the kingdom of God!

It's not that he will rescue me, but that he has already rescued me. I don't want to go back to the muck.

 Photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash