I am amazed at the resistance I'm encountering in this effort. I am just one ordinary soul trying to live God's will in my life. I am not doing the best, really. I'm managing to avoid mortal sin and I'm still prone to much venial sin and selfishness. My circle of influence is not a broad one -- just my family and my students. My vocation right now is a simple one -- to serve God and my family through my home life and by teaching religion in my daughter's school.
As I write these words, a dark presence is hovering ominously over our home as my mother-in-law jumps up in a rage over something my daughter has done. OUR LADY OF PEACE, pray for us. Guide me, Mary, to remain calm and respond in a spirit of charity in order to be an example and protector of this precious little soul you have entrusted to me. Lord, send my mother-in-law peace of spirit! Aging is hard, no doubt. But with a defiant little two-year-old in the house, and a jittery little dog who's forgotten how to be housebroken-- I'm amazed her blood pressure isn't higher than it already is. I'm amazed mine isn't high too.
But each time these moments arise, and each time words are held back so that peace prevails (as it has now), we have a small gift to offer God. A gift of perseverence in the tiniest of trials. Moments such as these are all I have to give.
Lord, help me live in Your Will! Help me resist the devil! Protect my family, and guide my efforts to serve my family and instruct my students in a way that pleases You.
Through Jesus' most Holy Name, I offer this little prayer and all my efforts.... Amen.
Dear Sister in Christ,
ReplyDeleteI wrote you another post, but have not yet received a response from you, so maybe you didn't receive it.
Could you please tell me where your husband obtained a copy of "The Cloistered Heart?"
Thank you very much.