Everybody is special

Each person is deeply loved by God. Even if we have a hard time liking them or accepting them as a part of our lives, we need to love what God loves. Therefore, we need to love everyone He does. He wants the best for them, and so should we.

Recognizing the presence of the Lord in all people would really reduce the amount of sin in the world and in our own individual lives. It's difficult to harbor unforgiveness, resentment, anger, lustful thoughts, jealousy, impatience, irritation, etc. when you ask to see Him there. If they have pushed Him out of their hearts, we cannot then just shake our heads with pity. We need to pray that God will reclaim them for Himself and do what we can to show them mercy and compassion.

As much as I "work with God" this is easy for me to forget sometimes, too. I have always wanted to love God more, and it's a piece of cake when I'm sitting in front of the Eucharist in adoration. But the real challenge is finding Him in those who surround us everyday...those we would rather not see or talk to...those who may make life tense or stressful for us.

This also would help my prayer and day-to-day minstry with people, whether they be family, coworkers, friends, students, fiance...and the list goes on. If I am aware of how present God is to all of us, I won't worry so much about those I cannot help because I will pray for them and trust that He will send another messenger to encourage them along the way. I also will not hesitate to help if the need is great and He makes it clear to me that something must be done.

The Spirit flows where the Spirit wills. Love surrounds us more than we know, and so to say each day, "Hello, Lord, I know You are here in our midst...You always have been and You always will be," is to give Him everything that belongs to Him - our time, our talents, our treasures, our hearts - and let Him direct us in their use. He's right here working with us, praying with us, cooking with us, cleaning with us, sharing in our joys and sorrows...accepting us in this moment just as we are but constantly laboring in our circumstances to bring us closer to heaven.

So I offer to you, dear God, my interactions with the people I love...with the people you send into my life...with the people who are there to help me grow in virtue. I pray that I will see You in them...that You will open up my heart wide enough to let Your love flow into it and through it so that they may experience You through my words, my actions, and my prayers...that You will open my ears in order to listen to Your voice calling out to me, teaching me Your ways in the lessons I learn in our conversations or maybe even in our silent exchanges.

All for You, Lord. Basta ikaw...

Shower meditation

Most "revelations" that I get come as I'm getting ready to start my day. It occurred to me at some point (was it after I was washing my hair? haha) that the entry I wrote in the wee hours of the morning when I couldn't sleep contained my "non-negotiables". So my thoughts continued, yes, after I woke up and God gave me the following:

If the characteristics of my "ideal mate" were not present and I ended up with the complete opposite, this is the kind of person he'd be. Imagine this...

• does not see a need for prayer
• refuses to believe in anything supernatural
• impatient
• judgmental
• unkind
• coarse
• lazy
• disrespectful
• does not value the Mass
• thinks praying the Rosary is a waste of time
• watches and listens to anything under the sun, no matter how many obscenties are seen or heard
• thinks kids are a nuisance
• rude
• prideful
• does not practice what he claims to believe when he does choose to believe in something
• chaotic
• selfish
• has no room for God in his life

Then I pictured being that way myself and felt sick to my stomach.

I can marry someone who can't cook but I can't marry someone who has no faith. I can commit to someone who doesn't listen to the same music as me but I can't allow junk to enter into the eyes and ears and thus the hearts of my children. He doesn't have to share all of my interests but he at least has to share my love for God.

I am really grateful, though, that Gary and I do have much in common - more than we thought at first - (and also that he can cook!) but I'm more grateful that he has what I can't let go of.

This is simply a follow-up to a conversation I had with a couple of friends this past weekend when one of them asked about the necessity of common interests between boyfriend and girlfriend or husband and wife. Sure, I really enjoy Broadway shows and overseas trips but there are more important values that really hold a relationship together and build the foundation for a good family.

We also spend so much time looking for that "special someone"...that "perfect soulmate"...that we neglect the work that needs to be done on ourselves to prepare for the moment when that person walks into our lives.

That's why I have to take a good look in the mirror, not just every once in a while but everyday...open to pulling out the logs in my own eyes before I start pointing specks out to other people.

Those are my thoughts for the day. I'm off to see my best friend now. I really miss her. =)

TTFN! +BiL

Night owl

Funny...I try to go to sleep early and then I wake up at 2am and can't get back to sleep...so I picked up my journal and wrote...still not able to fall asleep...so I'm blogging...

I was flipping through the pages of my book and found this list I made back in July. From the conversation I had with Gary a couple of nights ago when I was listing my "criteria" I realized that those were my preferences and there were things on that particular list that I could live without.

This one, however, describes the kind of person that would help get me and my kids (and a whole lot of other people) to Heaven...

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR:

• consistent prayer life
• faith
• patience
• understanding
• kind
• compassionate
• hard-working
• respectful
• goes to Mass - also daily, if possible
• loves to pray the Rosary
• knows how to filter media
• good with kids
• polite
• responsible
• disciplined and self-controlled
• simple
• humble
• good teacher
• peaceful
• calming
• helpful
• in love with God

And I asked myself if I was all of these things since they often say not to set expectations that you yourself cannot meet.

Hmm...Jesus and I are working on it. I definitely still have some growing to do, and I think I always will. We can always do better, and I'm fighting the temptation to be extremely hard on myself. Today, however, I can say that I'd like to learn to not only do better but actually be better. I do pray for that, for the sake of everyone in my life and most especially for God.

"Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Let love be in all." (1Cor 16:13-14)

All the Way to Heaven

by V*enna

I never thought that I would
Give my life to You
But know I need Your love in
Everything I do

And when my life is over
We can be together

Take me all the way to heaven
I will follow you forever
When all is said and done
You will be the only One
No more loneliness and sorrow
I have found a new tomorrow
And when my time has come
You and I will live as one

You're all I ever needed
I will follow You
And I will never leave you
Now I know the truth

Now I know I need your love
And I know Your love is real
Let me show You how I feel

Take me with You
Show me the way to heaven
I've found the truth
Now I will live forever...