Being a child of God

Though it has been well over a year now I still remember the moment that my daughter was born and placed into my arms. I was immediately in love with her from that second and yet she had not done anything other than come into this world. Those first few days all she could do was sleep, eat, and poop/pee but our love for her knew no bounds.

As she has continued to grow and develop, I am amazed at what she can do. She is able to run, climb, say a few words, feed herself, and so much more. And yet, my love for her remains the same as it did from that first moment of her birth. Even if she was not doing these things, my love for her would be the same.

Our Heavenly Father has the same delighted sentiments and love for us. When we are young children it is easy to feel this type of love, but as we age we can begin to feel that His love is based off of what we do in this life. We become attached to an identity or things we do as a sign of how much God loves us. At the core of who we are is simply being a child of God - regardless if I'm a CEO, trash collector, student, or factory worker.

If I were to lose that identity of my job/career - I would still be a loved Child of God.
If I were to get a promotion or award for my job - I would still be a loved Child of God.
If I were to leave this world without making a difference - I would still be a loved Child of God.
If I were to pass away and everyone knows my name - I would still be a loved Child of God.
If I were poor - I would still be a loved Child of God.
If I were the richest person in the world - I would still be a loved Child of God.
If I my intellectual capacity was not as high as others - I would still be a loved Child of God.
If I were to be the smartest person in the world - I would still be a loved Child of God.

I am a child of God as well as you, and because of that basic fact - I am loved by God.

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Heavenly Father,

Sometimes I lose sight that I am a Child of God in your arms and you love me because you created me. When I become attached to what I do/what I have done as a sign of how much you love me, give me the wisdom to see past that and get to the core of who I am. Thank you Lord for deeply loving me simply because I exist!

Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

The slight and long incline

Have you ever been walking and realized that you weren't walking on flat ground but a slight incline? These long and just barely even noticeable inclines I find are sometimes harder than the big and obvious hills. I'll admit there are some occasions when planning my runs or walks I will set a route to avoid particular inclines as by the long end it is easy to feel exhausted. There are times that I find myself preferring that big hill over this long and steady journey upward as I know with the hill what it will take to get to the top. Walking/running up an incline that goes on for a long time, you do not know when you reach your end or how much you will have to give or for how long. I will say though, practicing enough on an incline, when those hills do come - they don't seem to take the wind out of you as easily. 

There are seasons in our spiritual lives that God places a mountain or a hill for us to climb, but I think more often than not, we are on the slow and steady incline up. Most days are ordinary. Most days we have small issues or challenges. Most days we are performing our daily tasks that we have been called to do in our vocation. We do not have a clear ending or vision for the end point of what we are being called to do or in our daily tasks, but we are still called to walk and move forward. Each week there will be dishes to wash and laundry to fold. But, with every dish that is washed, piece of clothing folded, and loving interaction with family or friends we have together, a slight and steady opportunity to grow in holiness lays before our feet. 

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Father God, 

As I carry my cross each day let me not be discouraged in the slow and steady incline to grow closer to you. Allow me the grace to take each step and breath recognizing that you are with me in this journey. Lord I know that though this walk may be tiring, you are simply conditioning me to be better fit for when a hill or a mountain comes my way. 

Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

Turning on and off the light

Our sweet daughter gets to help around the house by turning on and off some lights. She absolutely loves how the light goes on when she moves it up and off when she flips the switch down. I can see the joy in her eyes when she does this for us. Now, being only a year and a half old, it takes a few moments for her to actually turn it off in the evening right before going to bed. (I think she knows what is coming and takes her time...lol.)  There are nights that I am feeling more impatient and wanting to get through her bedtime routine swiftly, but as much as my mommy patience can handle it - I still let her turn off the light. She needs to practice and do this even though it is such a basic thing to do and would take no time at all for me to just turn it off. She learns nothing if I always do this little task for her.

I sometimes think about how God must be thinking the same of me. Oh how easy it would be for Him to come in and "turn on/turn off" the light. Perhaps I'm taking too long to turn to Him, keep avoiding it, or can't even find the switch. But, as a loving Father, what would He teach me by doing it for me? I gain no new insights or learning by having God come in and turn on/turn off the light for me. There is something about being in the struggle - the resistance - that makes it all worth it when it is finally completed for both myself and God.

I know my husband and I delight when our daughter finally turns on or off a light. I humbly think God is pleased when we do the same in our lives with whatever situation, temptation, or challenge that we face with persistence towards the good. Let's keep moving towards Him in all that we do.

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Father God, 

There are times that I find myself in different circumstances or situations that you show your endless patience and mercy towards me. It would be easier for you to "just do it for me", but you are giving me a beautiful opportunity to grow and learn. I thank you for your love of me and every opportunity to grow in holiness. In your name, Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,
Elizabeth

Getting Lost

Before I go anywhere new and unfamiliar I always take 10 - 15 minutes to study the directions and the map of where I am going. I also plug in my phone to take me exactly where I need to while driving. However, it has happened a time or two (okay, more times than I can remember) that I've gotten lost or fell off the path. Truthfully, it has been frustrating and a bit embarrassing. I looked at the map - I had someone telling me where to go - and yet, I got lost. It shouldn't have happened, but yet it did. I wait for my GPS to re-route and eventually I make it to my destination. 

In the spiritual life I think this happens to all of us too. We have God's word, Sacraments, and the Catechism giving us direction before we even go anywhere. On the journey, we have family, friends, teachers, priests, and others who have good counsel helping us/guiding us. And yet, there are times we fall into the same sinfulness or forget where we came from. Thankfully, God will always re-route us to where we need to be. We may be taken on a different path than what we would have expected, but God will always lead us to our final destination of heaven. 

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Thank you Father for helping me when I get lost on my journey! I thank you for the things and the people who guide me back to the path of holiness and a deeper relationship with you. Help me to be diligent in knowing the route and listen well to the directions I am given to follow. 

In your name,

Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

"It's Jesus on the phone"

Recently my daughter and I were in our adoration chapel. I did not have her normal bag of goodies to keep her occupied so I could pray a few minutes so I did the next best thing and took out things from my purse. Like any other Catholic mom I have a half dozen prayer cards and booklets in my purse so I gave her the closest one. She ended up holding a Divine Mercy card was very pleased about this. At one point she decided to use that as her personal phone. It made me chuckle in that there she was putting Jesus literally up to her ear and babbling/chatting with Him. But then I paused.

I realized that though she was pretending to use the card as a phone, she was making a bigger point for me. Christ is always calling us, but there are times that my own weaknesses and sinfulness blocks the line to hear his voice being whispered in my ear. Or I simply neglect the adequate intentional action of bringing the "phone" to my ear through a rushed prayer or wandering mind prayer. What if we took an extra minute to be intentional with what we are saying in our prayer? What if we denied that initial inclination to fall into that weakness or sin and instead choose to lean into Christ? I wonder if we would be able to get a more clear perspective and truly hear His voice to learn more of who He is and what we are called to do.

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Lord, 
You are always calling me and drawing me closer to you. Help me to pick up the "phone" and listen to what you need me to hear. Thank you Lord for choosing me and calling me despite my failings, weaknesses, and sinfulness!
Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

Songs Speaking to Me - Post 3

These are just a few songs from this Lent that have been part of my prayer. I hope that their lyrics bring joy, comfort, hope, and love to you as we finish out these last couple of weeks in this Lenten season.

Never Stopped Loving By Jeremy Camp (Christian)

Throne Room by Kim Walker-Smith (Christian)

(Surrounded) Fight My Battles by Upper Room (Christian)

Start Over by Flame featuring NF (Christian Rap)

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Thank you God for the gift of music and musicians who share their gifts with the world for your glory! Please bless all those who use their musical talents to spread the good news. Allow every person who listens to their music be touched and brought closer to you.

In your name, 

Amen. 

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth

Marks on the hands

One of my groups of students had been using play doh in our time together. When our time was up I looked down and saw my hands were covered in green. I went to wash my hands in the bathroom and as I'm standing at the sink I realized how many other teachers find themselves with marks on their hands, arms, legs, clothes, etc. There is so much behind the fist that is now black from writing on the board all day, the teacher wearing paint on their new blouse after a student with fine motor needs needed help completing, or the paper cuts from grading a week's work of assignments. As any good teacher will tell you, those tiny marks on his/her hands were all worth it when he/she sees the students growing and learning something new. There is so much love these good teachers hold in his/her heart for every child no matter what type of day is happening.

Christ sees us in the same light with His own marks on his hands. His suffering and crucifixion on the cross was more than worth it for every one of us. Each mark was not in vain but rather held our salvation so we could learn to love one another and do good in this world. Thank you Jesus for suffering and dying on the cross for me - a sinner!

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Jesus, 

Please let me not forget the depth of the marks on your hands. May I strive to do good and learn to love better each day in every person, situation, or circumstance you lead me to so I can bring others closer to God. Thank you Lord for the gift of Salvation you have given to me!

Amen.

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Simply a little pencil in God's hand,

Elizabeth