Posted on by Charly

Joy

This week we are reminded to rejoice. We have a savior and he has already won the battle for us. As we sang “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” this past Sunday at mass I noticed I was not paying much attention until the words “rejoice rejoice” brought a smile to my face as I realized I can have joy no matter what is going on in this crazy world because I have Jesus. It reminded me of a little acrostic that the kids brought home from school. The J is for Jesus. The O is for others. The Y is for yourself.

When I struggle to be joyful in a world full of darkness and despair I remind myself to put Jesus first in my life by engaging in mass, praying, reading the Bible, receiving the sacraments, spending time at adoration, and simply being hopeful in the Lord.

Then I focus on those around me, others. What can I do to help them find joy? Maybe just a smile or a word of encouragement. Maybe I need to cook, bake, or clean for them. Maybe they need to be lifted up in prayer. Maybe I can find joy again by serving others.

Last only because it keeps me humble and not because I am unimportant; is to look inward. To look and see if my needs are being met. Am I getting enough rest, nutritious food, exercise, and enjoyment?

When I am lacking in joy the answer is short and sweet. It is seemingly simple yet can be a daily struggle to keep in perspective:

Jesus

Others

Yourself

Posted on by Charly

Advent To Do List:

(Photo from pixbay)

I have been making lists for years.  Things always get checked off but the next day a new list is created.  December’s to do list is especially long and difficult to finish.  I started out this advent season listening to some podcasts while making my list of gift ideas.  Father Mike Schmitz always engages me and his homely the first Sunday of Advent was especially thought-provoking.  I stopped writing my list and listened carefully.

Father Mike Schmitz said, “You are going to die.  The date you will die is December 25.”  In other words that don’t get your attention quite as fiercely as those, “You are going to die and you will meet Jesus! So don’t just clean your house, decorate it beautifully, and buy great gifts for loved ones but prepare your heart for meeting Him! “Get ready now!’ He said.

My mom’s dying words were, “Lord help me.” She met Him. I know we will all meet Jesus. Whether we love Him or not we will come face to face with Him. I am working on getting my heart ready for that meeting whether it is December 25 or not I want to be ready.

We may meet Him before our death. Here was a new take on the second coming of Jesus. It was from Father James at mass this past Sunday.  He took a view I have never considered.  He said something like this; Jesus will have a second coming.  What if He is trying to right now through you?  Are you listening? Are you obeying? Do you love Him enough that others can “see Him through you”?

Can others see Jesus through me? As I let that settle in my mind it rattles me. I have knowledge of Jesus and even a deep relationship with Him but does that bring others to know Him? I have some sharing to do!

This year I am adding two things to my advent to-do list.  Two things that will be harder than decorating my house with all the little helpful hands I have.  Harder than finding and buying gifts for those in my life.  Harder than finding time to get my whole family together to get a Christmas tree.  Harder yet so much more meaningful!

Additions to my Advent to-do List:

  • Clean up my heart
  • Bring Jesus to others
Posted on by Charly

Is My Heart Drowsy?

Image result for sleepy heart(Sleepy heart by drawception.com)

Advent is fast approaching.  It is a time to reflect and prepare for the coming of Christ.  We were reminded last weekend that He is our king.  How do we sufficiently prepare for the king of the universe? It sounds quite overwhelming.  I’m sure it’s something like preparing our homes for the Christmas holiday but in a way that bears our true self not just the neat and tidy version.  This coming Sunday we will hear “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life…” Luke 21:34

Carousing and drunkenness do not seem to be issues I struggle with.  Usually when reading this passage of scripture I just skim it over and arrogantly think,  “I don’t become drowsy from those things, so I’m okay.”   I am not a naturally anxious person, even so the anxieties of everyday life can take over my mind. Thank God for this month of Advent to remind me to take a step back and slow down.  Not a time to worry about the perfect gifts to get, the perfect photos for the Christmas card, what we will all wear for Christmas dinner, or the most beautiful Christmas decorations, but a time to pray through each of these “anxieties”.  My trust needs to be in the Lord.

One word caught me off guard as I read this passage.  The word “heart”.  I am somewhat relieved it does not say do not let your eyes become drowsy because I often feel like closing them and catching a nap!  My heart though, what does it mean for it to get drowsy?  I’m sure it isn’t in the sense of it’s beating, as we can not control that.  It could mean in the sense of getting tired of loving.  There are people who are difficult to love.  I need to remind myself that the lord himself loves every human and although I may become irritated or frustrated by them my heart should desire their good.  It is time to prepare my heart for the coming of our king by not allowing it to get drowsy.  So while my focus may seem to be on preparing my home, my children’s gifts, and the annual Christmas letter I need to beware of the state of my heart!

Things to do to protect your heart from drowsiness:

Pray and read the Bible, strengthen your relationship with Jesus.

Receive the sacraments.

See everyone you come in contact with as a child of God.

Seek wisdom and knowledge from people whose faith is strong.

Give time, talent, and treasure.

Share Jesus with others!

Posted on by Charly

His Will

I feel like God is nudging me to get out of my comfy prayer corner and get my hands dirty.  My mind is like a mess of spaghetti, ideas flowing all over and around each other.  I would love to take my family on a mission trip to some far away country.  I would like to head down to the border and help care for the thousands of South American people that are coming to the US.  I would like to go to Minneapolis and help out at Sharing and Caring Hands.  I’d like to serve Him by tutoring the kids and adults.  I’d like to teach CCD. I’d like to take in foster kids.   I’d like to sell all my belongings and just serve people. These are lofty ideas when you have six kids to care for and three businesses to run.  Thank God some people are called to serve in these ways.  As much as I would love to do something huge and impactful like Mother Theresa or Mary Jo Copeland it isn’t what God is calling me to right now.

When I pray about His will in my life I keep hearing Mother Teresa’s words, “Go home and love your family.”  Sometimes I just want an adventure! I know in my heart I am doing important work by supporting and working with my husband and raising our children.  Yet I still feel a call to get out of my comfortable prayer chair and do something.  Maybe He is calling me to be more joyful in the sometimes monotonous duties of raising a family.  This thought makes me think of the Little Flower, St. Terese of Lisieux who never did anything “huge” yet served our Lord with her whole heart.

I was reminded at mass this weekend that Jesus is coming again and we don’t know when. It could be today. It could be tomorrow. I need to be ready. I need to be doing what the Lord wants me to be doing.  For now I will continue to pray for His guidance and  serve my family, the family that God himself has blessed me with.

Posted on by Charly

Do You Know My Best Friend?

As kids making friends is natural and even easy. I remember when I was 7. I was in math class. Our assignment was to measure different body parts, feet, hands, fingers, nose… we were to work with a partner. I was new to the school and didn’t have many friends yet. That day in math class my partner and I were excited. Every time we measured a part it was the same. Her foot was exactly the same length as mine! Her nose was too! Her fingers and hands were also! It made us giddy and joyful to be so similar. It also bonded us for life. She is still a friend 30 plus years later.

We all have friends. I hope so anyway! There are not many things better than having friends!  In fact the necessities of food, clothing, and shelter should include friendship. I think it’s important to have a variety of friends.  Some that you can confide everything to.  Some that are at a similar life stage as you and you can share your struggles with.  Some that are older and can give you wisdom.  Some that are younger and you can share your wisdom with.  Some that you have known forever and although you don’t see very often you can come together once in a while and feel like no time has passed.  Some that have the same views as you and some that have the opposite.  Some that you can be silly with and some that you can be serious with.  Some friendships have lasted more than 30 years and others have just been for a little while.  Some are just starting.  They are all treasured!

There is one friend whom I didn’t meet until my 20’s.  I would consider him my best friend.  He’s a friend I can sit quietly with.  He is a friend I can talk to about absolutely anything.  He holds me up when this world beats me down.  He encourages me, strengthens me, guides me, protects me, heals me, and best of all loves me no matter what.  He is polite and yet demanding but in such a gentle a way that always shows me truth.  He waits patiently for me to ask before he shares his wisdom.  He knows my heart better than I do.  Like my other friendships it takes work, time and energy, to keep in my life.   If I ignore him I feel the sting of his absence.  He is such a true friend he even gave his life for me.   Up until now you probably thought I was talking about my husband. Close but I’m talking about Jesus. The beautiful thing about friendship with him is that it is available to everyone.  I can spend 24hrs a day with Him and not be hogging all to myself.

My daughter is going to be in the play “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”.  It is the Christmas story reenacted by some mischievous little children.  It really is a funny play!  It is also touching.  The mischievous children don’t know Jesus.  They are fascinated when they hear his story.  When I first started to learn about Jesus and my faith I focused on the rules.  It took me time to develop a relationship with Jesus.  The “rules” however are not a moot point.  Friendship and the “rules” or commands go hand in hand.

“You are my friends if you do what I command you to do” Matthew 15:14

His commands are  really quite simple. Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself.  Ok so this is very simplified!  I am not a theologian I’m just a simple Jesus loving woman. Don’t be mislead.  Simple and easy are not the same.  It takes making difficult choices and sacrifices to simply love God and neighbor!

The one thing I regret is not sharing him with everyone I met.  It’s not as easy as walking up to someone and saying, “Hey this is Jesus.  Have you guys ever met?”  If you know him already I challenge you to get closer to him and share him with others!  If you don’t know him yet sit down or kneel down and ask him to revel himself to you.  Talk to him and he will guide you towards a beautiful friendship that will help you everyday for the rest of your life.  And when your life here is over he will lead you to eternity with him!

In this season of cooling temperatures and less sunshine we need to focus more on our friendships to get us through. Jesus is always with us even in these dark months but it can be more difficult as an adult to make human friends and maintain human friendships. You don’t get paired up to measure body parts anymore. We can be so busy with family life weeks pass before we realize we haven’t even texted a certain friend. It’s time to put friendships on the todo list!

Posted on by Charly

This Land is Parching

(Photo from the Catholic Company on Pinterest)

I don’t remember it word for word but here is my version of a story I heard years ago:

She was small. She was delicate. She seemed insignificant. She was one of a million that were falling from the sky this winter day. As she made her decent she sparkled in the sun and twirled in the wind. She didn’t realize how following her path down through the atmosphere she would be the one who would make a difference. Her landing was soft amongst a million others who had settled on the branch of a spruce tree. As soon as she settled there was a loud crack. The whole branch snapped off and fell to the ground. It had taken her weight to make the break complete. Just a small, delicate, seemingly insignificant snowflake.

This story was used to point out how we can be significant even in our smallness. I think about my “snowflake”. My small yet significant contribution to serving God in this world. I have decided to make it be my smile. Smiling acknowledges humanity in another person. I can share it anywhere with anyone and it will never be used up. Smiles can change the world.

In this land that is parching, not for lack of water but for lack of love, we need to be the rain for one another. God will fill us with His grace and then we can rain down love and compassion upon His creation. Is a simple smile the answer to all of the worlds evil? No I’m sure it’s not. But I can’t smile without looking into someone’s eyes and taking a moment to see them. This can be a sign to someone that they matter. That they are important enough to be noticed. That can make a difference. Find your “snowflake” and share it with everyone you meet.

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