Tag: God

Do I offer strangers a warm welcome?  

Recently on a trip with a good friend and her daughter to celebrate her daughter’s 18th birthday. We enjoyed a fabulous afternoon tea.  The tables in the restaurant were close together, and a mother and her daughter sitting beside us smiled and leaned over to wish my friend’s daughter a happy birthday.  Before I knew it, we were talking and sharing stories like old friends.  We all enjoyed the conversation and learning more about each other.  This moment of grace among strangers enhanced the special time that we enjoyed on the trip.

Do I want good for other people?

Today as I was driving, there was a gentle, light rain. I barely noticed the drizzle. As I started driving faster on the freeway, the drizzle became a blur on my window and I couldn’t see without turning on my wipers. 

Do I ask God to increase my faith each day? 

Sometimes I fail to appreciate the greatness of the gift of faith.  Faith in God has provided a sure grounding for my life — it has made the blessings sweeter and eased the pain of sufferings I have encountered.  I cannot imagine my life without faith in God.  However, as someone who was raised in a faith-filled home and continues to practice my faith, at times I take for granted how God has blessed me with the gift of faith throughout my life.  

An important service to those in need.

There are so many things that I love about the Catholic Church.  The teachings, prayers, and writings from the saints all draw me deeper into my relationship with God. After all, this is the role of the Church to give us community and grow in our faith. 

Did I keep a smile on my face today?

It is hard to keep smiling when I have a lot on my mind.  Between issues with family, friends, work, other activities, finances, and devastating events in the world, it can be hard to keep smiling.  I forget, though, the impact of a smile on my face for others and how it can help bring peace and joy to my inner turmoil as well.  

What am I reading today?  

I love to read.  Once I learned to read as a child, you could more often than not find me with my nose buried in a book.  As I grew older and entered into the working world, I found that I had less time for reading, but have been rediscovering over the past few years the simple pleasure of cracking open a book (or opening a book on my Kindle) and entering a new world.  

Did I sit in silence to be with God today?  

The world seems so noisy today and it can be hard for me to find times to be quiet and sit in silence to pray.  Between work and other obligations, I do make time for prayers and reading the Bible, but often that time becomes filled with me talking to God, rather than focusing on contemplative or centering prayer and listening for God’s voice.  I find it hard at times just to sit in the silence and have to fight the urge to do something or say something.