Praise You King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Praise Your most Holy name. Praise You King of Heaven and Earth. Praise and Glory to You forever and ever.
Thank You Lord for always being God. Thank You for Your discipline and promptings to reflect on the realities of Your kingdom. Thank You for designing each family, a true school of holiness. Thank You for being a loving Father, and a sovereign King, and for Your Blessed Mother and mine.
Forgive me Lord when I forget that You are God and I am not. Forgive me Lord when I do not begin by addressing the beam in my eye, and immediately try to help my brother with the splinter in his. Forgive me Lord for my lack of trust in You.
I have had a rough morning. As a family, we only attempt early Mass once a month or so because mornings can be very difficult. It is rough on me, not because I have littles to wrangle and dress, but because I have a tendency to react emotionally to the issues that some of my children face that always seem to be magnified when we are headed to Mass. I find myself thinking, “They are weak. ” I often stew in these thoughts and allow them to have way too much power over me. Sometimes, they turn into a frustration that follows me throughout the day, and even through Mass. I am working on it; I have been working on it – for years!
God, in His most infinite Mercy and Kindness, reminded me of something beautiful this morning as I was trying my best to remind myself that thoughts are just thoughts and feelings are just feelings. My children likely are tired of me saying, “Feelings are real, but they are not reality.” I do not think they fully understand that I need to hear it just as much, if not more, than they do.
On our way to Mass, God gently reminded me that we are all weak! He works with and through and for the weak! My children do not need to be strong because He is! Lord, help me to remember this!
Then, as lagniappe, I was given a most precious gift during Mass and a realization to which, I pray, I can cling. After the two daughters exited Confession, each sat on either side of me. During Mass, they both began playing with my hair and showing affection. I imagined that is how we are with our Blessed Mother, and I am sure that she feels such motherly affection as I did. My husband was seated at the end and as on most Sundays, directs us during our way to Communion by stepping aside and allowing us to proceed before him. It reminded me so much of Jesus as King. I guess it is his strength, and the formality and chivalry of it all.
That is when the Holy Spirit just overwhelmed with the reality of how, for many, we approach Our Lady, the queen, and have her approach Jesus, Our King. Our Lady is our Mother, and we are all, at one point, affectionate toward and rely on our mother, even if she is not the “strong” one of our parents.
After Mass, there were free rosaries given to my girls, and they chose a few extra for the sisters who did not make it with us. My morning had come full circle, beginning with an issue, ending with THE means to a resolution. Now, for the challenge of continuing to trust Him and His strength, listening for any guidance on participation from me for His plan.
Has God given you a complete lesson recently? Have you had an issue, and He provided insight and an exercise to practice to achieve a resolution? Please, share your story! I bet someone would be encouraged by it.
Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash
