January. Post-holiday blues, slumps, overwhelm...needy tiny people, piles of laundry, meals to be prepped, again...The Devil wants us to ruminate on our weaknesses and that's how he keeps us down and pulls us away from our Loving Savior. How many times this past year did I get stuck only seeing my weaknesses? My short fuse, inconsistent parenting, personal development and personal discipline are areas that I constantly see myself falling short. But if all I do is see my failures, where does that leave me? Frustrated, full of excuses and self-pity and in the same spot. These are the moments that I need to RUN to my Savior. His tender heart wants to pick me up and carry me by the elevator of His love, as St. Therese says. I don't need to keep climbing that staircase. I need to reach out for grace! Hear my cries, Lord, and in my littleness and all my broken failings, transform my nature to move mountains for your glory. I can't but You can. How many times have...
When my youngest was just one month, I went away with her on a moms get-away. It was wonderful. Minimal responsibilities, a beautiful view of Lake Superior, quality conversation with good friends late into the night, and lots of willing hands to hold my sweet baby and give me a little break! Late one of those evenings the conversation with a friend I trust, respect and admire turned to aspirations and raising children and, while I can't remember much of what I shared, what I do remember is her saying her approach is to "Do the Hard." Do the hard. What does that mean? It's another way of saying what we all know: success takes sacrifice. Growth, Goodness, the Highest things demand of us that we must be willing to give up something now for something better later. The Resurrection only comes by way of the Cross. We must eschew comforts to make great gains. Do the Hard. What are the hard things for me? For quite some time my list has looked a bit like ...