"Love shares everything it has and reveals itself in communication. There is no true faith that is not manifested in love. And love is not Christian love if it is not generous and concrete. A decidedly generous love is a sign of faith and an invitation to faith." -Pope Francis, Only Love Can Save You, Lenten Letter February 22, 2012 For Meditation: Choose one concrete and generous way to love someone today. Pray for God's grace to show you how to love concretely and generously.
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The book Small Steps for Catholic Moms offers daily meditations to help busy moms attain balance between an active life and a contemplative one. Each day, the book shares three items which call us to “Think-Pray-Act”. The following is a meditation passage from the book (page 6): Think: “It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes.” –St. Thomas Aquinas Pray: God, help me to always hear Your glad voice in the laughter of the ones I love. Act: Pop some popcorn this afternoon and share jokes as a family. If you don’t know any good ones, borrow some children’s joke and riddle books from the library. Laugh together! Source: Small Steps for Catholic Moms: Your Daily Call to Think, Pray, and Act (page 6) Unanswered Prayers “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” Garth Brooks, Unanswered Prayers Have you ever wanted something so badly that it consumed your every thought?... You could sense it in your bones or taste it on your lips? Our boys go through this range of emotions nearly every day wanting “this toy”, “that game”, or whatever must have item they see on TV that hour. As parents, we have to make a lot of very important decisions on what requests we fulfill for our children. If we gave in to every wish they threw at us, our home would be busting at the seams with Legos, action figures, video games, and chocolate pudding, but really, would that be good for any of us? No, of course not. So sometimes our answer to them must be “not now” or “not yet” or simply “no”. Other times we are able to say “yes” or “of course” or “it would be my pleasure”. Whatever our response may be, we love our children and truly want what is best for them at all times. The same is true for our prayers. Sometimes the answer is “yes” or “absolutely” but other times the answer is “no”, “not yet”, or “in My perfect timing”. But no matter what the outcome is to our prayers, the response is always and emphatically “I love you and I want what is best for you!” As I reflect back on my life and my prayers (both answered and unanswered), I can truly see where “I love you” was the answer to each and every one of them. I am so truly thankful for the opened doors as well as the shut ones, the “yes” as well as the “no” responses. So today I thank God for the answered as well as the “unanswered prayers” that have made me into the woman I am today. And as Garth puts it (and I will sing right along with him)…. “Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs, That just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean he don’t care, Some of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers.” Many of you have probably heard me talk about my favorite daily devotional book, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young. Every day contains a message of God's love, grace, hope, and peace. Today's message really moved me, especially as we focus on living gratefully during this month of Thanksgiving. I hope that it touches your heart as well.... "Focus your entire being on My Living Presence. I am most assuredly with you, enveloping you in My Love and Peace. While you relax in My Presence, I am molding your mind and cleansing your heart. I am recreating you into the one I designed you to be. As you move from stillness into the activities of your day, do not relinquish your attentiveness to Me. If something troubles you, talk it over with Me. If you get bored with what you are doing, fill the time with prayers and praise. When someone irritates you, don't let your thoughts linger on that person's faults. Gently nudge your mind back to Me. Every moment is precious if you keep your focus on Me. Any day can be a good day, because My Presence permeates all time." Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, page 329 For Meditation: Take a quiet moment, relax, and focus your entire being on His Living Presence. Allow yourself to be fully enveloped by the love and peace of our Lord. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you;
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