A Plate of Thanksgiving Dinner

I saw a wonderfully hilarious meme floating around Facebook right before Thanksgiving. The essence of it was "I'm so glad to be spending 6 hours cooking a Thanksgiving meal where all my kid will eat is a dinner roll." Talking with some friends who have young children they all seem so share the same sentiment.

Thankfully, my daughter ate a bit more than just her bread, but you could totally tell what foods she liked more. (Cranberry sauce, Brussels sprouts, bread, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin roll) She did not prefer any turkey with gravy, peas and carrots, and the mushroom stuffing/dressing. But, still, we offered a little of everything to try. Even as adults, we may put all the Thanksgiving foods on our plate and pretend to eat the things we like the least all the while sneaking seconds of those things we like the most.

God's love to us is a beautiful plate of Thanksgiving Dinner presented to us each new day. As much as we'd like to believe love is like a Hallmark Christmas movie where everyone ends in a lovey-dovey, cheery, everything is perfect, and happy way - this is not reality. Sometimes love can taste or feel a bit dry. Sometimes love can taste a bit overdone. Sometimes love is plain and simple in how it tastes and other times it is rich and flavorful. And sometimes, love looks messy or unappealing but turns out to be the best thing on the plate.

God gives the opportunity feast in His love in so many various forms and ways. And I'll be brutally honest...some taste better than others. I much rather have the sweet and endearing form of love (read: getting my daily quota of hugs and spending time with David and my daughter) rather than the "It will be good for you...now eat your veggies" form of love (read: cleaning up a giant mess that my daughter made after just cleaning up that area moments before or not receiving an answer to a prayer in the way I wanted). But we need to accept graciously all the ways God feeds us His love and asks us to feed love to others with whatever ingredients we have. When we skip the veggies and only eat the pie, we will miss out on other delightfully delicious opportunities God has presented for each of us to devour.

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Lord, 

You give so much love and goodness to me each new day to feast on. Sometimes I am stubborn and do not want to try the different ways you want to love me and to love others. Help me to be open to whatever you offer to me and what you want me to offer to others with a humble heart. 

In your name, 

Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

Using a pacifier

There was a day over the summer that my daughter did not want to go down for her afternoon nap. She was incredibly fussy and I needed to pull out all the tricks in my bag to get her to sooth and calm for sleeping. One of the strategies used at that time was shooshing in her ear and offering her a pacifier.

Seated on the floor I'm cradling my daughter, putting a pacifier in her mouth, and shooshing in her ear. My daughter leaned to the side and grabbed a loose pacifier from the floor and tried to put it in my mouth. Yep, that's right, my daughter decided I needed a pacifier too. I couldn't help but laugh at the whole scenario.

This particular nap time made me think how sometimes I have gotten so preoccupied talking to God I do not make enough time to listen. I keep shooshing in God's ear about my worries/needs/concerns/etc when I really should put a pacifier in my own mouth so I can hear Him whisper in my ear the responses to all those intentions. Now, don't get me wrong, God wants to hear my needs/worries/desires/etc, but I think I spend too much time talking and not listening. When was the last time you went to God to simply be present and listened?

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Today Lord, I will put the pacifier in my own mouth so I can hear you whisper in my ear to sooth me. Teach me to listen to your voice. Amen. 

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

Symphony parts

Recently, David and I were able to go see the symphony for a date night. I always enjoy hearing a the full symphony play and create such amazing music. There were several phenomenal soloist who performed that evening all with such dedication, passion, and who sounded fabulous. However, it was not the soloist that caught my attention.

Every musician that sat behind the soloists out in front played each of their parts with such passion and focus. They added such a fullness and support for the soloists' parts. Without the symphony behind the soloists, the piece would not sound the same. Yet, it can be really hard to be playing whole notes for most a piece while watching everyone "ooo" and "ahh" over the more interesting soloist part. It can also be hard when you are in it to hear how much of a difference you are making.

We are each an instrument in God's beautiful symphony. Yes you! There are times that He asks us to play the whole notes for the entirety of a piece with humility while others get the more interesting solos. And there are times that we are sitting (resting) for most of a piece only to play a handful of notes towards the end. And there are times we are asked to come forward to play the big solo. Without each unique and beautiful part, without you, the piece would not be the same.  There is such a bigger masterpiece God has in mind that we cannot truly begin to fathom.

So, if you are feeling a bit like a background sound right now and not sure if you are meaningful...know that you are adding to the fullness of God's work. You are adding such beauty to His masterpiece by simply living out your role and using your gifts/talents. And if you are feeling like you have no part to play, remember each musician needs to take a moment to breath and rest. Take that breath, because maybe God is just preparing you for a solo or something that will take great dedication and focus.

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Lord, 
You remind me that sometimes my role in this world is not to be the soloist out in front, but to be in the background and add to the fullness of your masterpiece. When it is my time for a solo, give me the graces I need to play my part well and with humility. Thank you Lord for allowing me the opportunity and graces to be part of your great work. In your most Holy name,
Amen. 

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

Christ's light behind the shadows

One night I found myself taking out the trash and recycling to the cans behind our house and forgot to turn on the light. Though I had been behind our house a thousand times, there were eerie shadows that quickened my pace back to the house. Looking out from our living room window at the shadows that frightened me, they were things that in the daylight are not scary - trees, fences, shed, etc. But, just something about the shadows made it frightening.

In order for a shadow to form, a solid figure has to block the light that is coming from behind it. What is left in front of the object is a shadow. So, even in the shadows there is light.

This got me thinking about some of the scary shadows that can form in our daily lives. Christ's light is always shining, but sometimes things block it and what remains are shadows to frighten us. How many times have I quickened my pace from something that was bringing me closer to the light of Christ and holiness because it was frightening in my mind? How many times has the truth and beauty gotten twisted by my own lack of receptivity and solidness? How many times have I simply turned my back on the light of Christ because of my own sinfulness?

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Father in Heaven,

There are many good things you put in our lives and through my own weaknesses, sinfulness, or fears they can often get twisted and seem like dark shadows. Please help me truly look at the shadow and see the light coming from behind it - the light of Christ. Give me the graces I need to not be afraid.

Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

How Hugh Jackman inspired me to go to confession

You may have heard of a movie called The Greatest Showman that was inspired by PT Barnum's life and the creation of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. The soundtrack to the movie is absolutely amazing! I love all the music from the movie, but I can't get through a day without listening to "From Now On" at least a half dozen times-no joke!

Without giving too much away about the movie, Hugh Jackman's character realizes while singing this song that he needs to make a change in his life to get back on track. Recently, I decided to look up the lyrics so as to better sing along and the following struck me:

I drank champagne with kings and queens

The politicians praised my name

But those are someone else's dreams

The pitfalls of the man I became

For years and years

I chased their cheers

The crazy speed of always needing more

But when I stop

And see you here

I remember who all this was for

Perhaps it was the season of life I was in when I read these lyrics, but I felt a pull on my heart. How many times had I fallen into a pit because of things I did or did not do for my own selfish reasons? How many times did I crave more of something that was not good for me? What/Who was I chasing after? Oh how I needed to stop, reflect, and seek God. And for me, I needed to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) and make a new commitment with God.

Thankfully I was able to go recently to receive the Sacrament. After my confession I could not get the chorus out of my head that is as follows:

And from now on

These eyes will not be blinded by the lights

From now on

What's waited till tomorrow starts tonight

It starts tonight

And let this promise in me start

Like an anthem in my heart

From now on

Now every time I listen to Hugh Jackman sing this song I think about my need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and God's mercy and forgiveness. But, also my own part to renew my commitment to Him and let it be in my heart-not just my words. From now on...

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Dear Lord,

Give me the graces I need to not fall back into the pit, avoid the things that take life away from me, or chase after empty promises and things. Please guide me to always see your face in my daily life. Walk with me as I make this new commitment to follow you more closely. 
Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

1st chair tests

Back in middle school and high school I played the french horn. I will never forget our first chair test. For those of you who were not in band, a chair test was a particular piece of music that all the same instruments were given to be given an order for the next concert. Whoever performed it best would be 1st chair, and whoever performed it 2nd best would be 2nd chair, and so on.

My first chair test was in 6th grade after a couple of weeks learning the basics. All we had to do was play a concert F (actually a C for the french horn). After all the horns played we got our placement. Our director told me I was given 1st chair. I was shocked-really me?! After class I asked her why did I deserve 1st and she told me that I had articulated the start of my note well (well enough for a 6th grader...), played the right note, and held it steady.

The next several chair tests I was consistently one of the top chairs. Late in my 6th grade year we had a chair test for a piece that was more challenging. My chair test was not as successful as I would have hoped for, so I was given one of the last chairs. I was so upset with myself and the situation. I practiced like all the dozens of times before, but it did not go the way I thought it would.

There are times in our lives that we pray and do all the right things and those prayers seem to be answered in the way we hoped for. Then, there are times that we do everything right and God gives us an answer we do not like. What I have to remind myself is that God is not a vending machine. It is not a case that I push a button and get what I want every time. There will be times that an answer is "no" or come in a way that I did not anticipate even if I did everything "right."

Thankfully, I did not just give up after that chair test. I continued on and the next time I was one of the top chairs again. As time went on, there were times that I was not the top chair again and there were times I was one of the top chairs. Just like with our prayer life, we have to always press on. Even when it looks bleak and God does not give us the answers we want or were hoping for. His plan is bigger than a single prayer of ours.

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Father in Heaven,

Thank you for all the gifts you have given to me through answered prayers. Give me the graces to accept the prayers that had been answered in a way that I did not like or understand your bigger meaning behind. Allow me the strength to continue to persevere in my prayer. 

Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

Patron Saint for the year

Have you ever drawn a Saint for the year? This week in one of my women's groups we had the opportunity to prayerfully pick a Saint out of a hat as our patron for the year. The name I had selected was Pope Saint Pius X. I'll be honest, when I drew his name I had no idea who he was and even now I'm still learning about his life. From what I've gotten to read so far, he seems to be a Saint I could use some intercessory prayers from! Looking forward to this year with my patron Saint! :) 

If you'd like to do your own Saint for the year there is an online version of picking one. Check it out here. 

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Thank you Lord for all the Holy men and women who have walked before us! We ask for all the Saints to pray for us here on earth to grow in holiness and love of you Lord!

Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth