Tag: Gift

Although the world is full of suffering, we also see many examples of those who overcome it. When we look at our own life and the lives of others, it is clear that pain is part of life. 

It is tempting to want our noble purpose and relationships to involve power, status, or high regard. But in marriage and friendships, this purpose is often more personal. It involves vulnerability, compromise, and embracing the ordinary and oftentimes the chaos that life brings. It is noble to sit down our egos, and our fantasies of who our partner or friend before us might be, and really see them as God sees them. This is, after all, the noble purpose, for each of us, and all our relationships.

One of the most beautiful things about being Catholic is the tradition and mystery of the Mass. This is where I encounter God’s love for me, nourishing me for the journey.

Time always seems to pass too slowly or too quickly, it seems. We want the fun times to last longer. We want the boring or painful times to go faster. 

Recently, I’ve been setting the intention to stretch and push my body more to help with flexibility and strength. I’m noticing how shallow I breathe throughout most of the day. I was curious to see how many deep breaths I could take in a minute and use that as a guide to hold different stretches and yoga poses for flexibility rather than set a timer. I was shocked that eight long, slow, inhales and exhales brought me to the minute mark. This exercise of breathing intentionally left me a little lightheaded and changed my perspective. I don’t need to pick up the pace and do more, I need to lean in and slow down.

The way we think about ourselves determines how we behave and who we become. If I believe I am good at something, I will be more confident and have a more favorable result and my extra effort usually pays off.  If I think I’m proficient at something, I have a sense of pride and I’ll continue to excel in that area.  

Lately I’ve been noticing the generosity of the people that cross my path. It is those little acts of kindness that pattern God’s grace-filled giving.

As a daughter of the King, I find myself more often than not kicking my crown to the curb living a worldly life rather than in my divinity. Surely I’m not the only one!

What is the law of the Lord? We are to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul. When we have God as our center, our foundation, the Spirit within guides us and shows us the way. We learn to love others and we learn to love ourselves. Not in a narcissistic way which the dysfunctional world teaches but with a kind, compassionate and merciful love. Like the love that flows in the Trinity which is the outpouring of self-emptying love between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

It takes endurance to live a life worth living. As a person who has found their value in achievement, running the race of life has been effortless most of the time. However, to live life well, in connection with God, myself and others, I’m learning the endurance it takes to slow down and enjoy the journey.