FINDING UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Each morning, I receive a Minute Meditation via e-mail. The thought for today is:

Love within a family is unconditional, and this kind of environment is necessary not only for children but also for adults who need a space of healing from wounds inflicted in the marketplace.
~Living a Spirituality of Action~


Love within a family SHOULD be unconditional and curative.

Is it that way in YOUR family?

Is it that way in MINE?

Too many times, our families are our worst judges and juries...our closest relations are our harshest critics...our most punitive taskmasters...a veritable fount of unforgiveness.

There are many reasons...excuses...why this dynamic is so; and yet, it is not the familial relationship-dynamic modeled to us by our Triune God!

So, where do we go, when the harshest wounds are not inflicted in the marketplace, but rather in the bosom of the family?

While some turn to alcohol, drugs, promiscuity, overspending, and other "self-medicating"...self-harming...short-term fixes; I turn to God...my haven in the complexities and irrationalities that are my family life. I would love to have had a "Donna Reed-type" family...but, I was not so blessed.

And so, I turn to God...who KNOWS all...and...SEES all.

I pray for conversion of hearts for those who refuse to communicate...or have right relationship...with me.

I pray for God to pour His love and mercy and forgiveness out upon me, so I in turn, may have mercy, forgiveness, love...AND...understanding for those who are hurting my children and I.

I pray that God may keep me from becoming as bitter as some.

And, I pray for fortitude...to continue doing what I know in my heart is the right thing to do...to follow through on the wishes of the one who was disrespected...in life...in illness...and even...in death.

I guess, as the old saw goes: "candy is dandy...liquor is quicker"...


but...


GOD IS FOREVER!


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THE POLICEMAN

Who are YOU judging?

Who needs to hear YOU say..."I love you?"

What are YOU waiting for?

Tomorrow, may be TOO LATE!

THE REASON FOR OUR HOPE FOUNDATION

...ANYWAY

Several years ago, a friend gave me a wall hanging attributed to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Apparently, the original hangs in Mother Teresa's Home For Children in India. The last line says it all!

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.


If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.


If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.


If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.


What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.


If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.


The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.


Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.


In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

FORGIVENESS

So, the Sacrament of Reconciliation makes right our sins against God and others. But, what about those sins perpetrated against us?

To whom much is given, much is expected. ~ Luke 12:48 ~

When we walk out of the confessional basking in the glow of healing and renewal, we MUST pass the forgiveness on...for the other...but, more importantly for ourself.

In our society, forgiveness is often seen as weakness. People who forgive those who have hurt them or their family are made to look as if they really don't care about their loved ones. But forgiveness is tremendous strength. It is the action of someone who refuses to be consumed by hatred and revenge. ~ Helen Prejean, csj ~

And, by ridding ourselves of hatred and revenge, we also rid ourselves of stress and anxiety. We stop dwelling on the particulars of the offense, we avoid becoming consumed by the desire to punish the other and, we find peace...happiness...emotional and spiritual healing.

Forgiving the other means we take away the power we have given that person over our life. Forgiveness allows us to stand up straight and strong, and to loudly proclaim:


"I will be a victim no longer!"


So, what is YOUR decision?


Will YOU continue on in weakness?


Will YOU allow pride...hatred...revenge to ruin YOUR life?


Or...


Do YOU have the strength it takes to forgive and live free...

to evict that person or circumstance YOU allow...

to live rent-free in YOUR psyche?


For more on grudges, bitterness, and forgiveness go to:

FORGIVENESS: HOW TO LET GO OF GRUDGES AND BITTERNESS ~ MAYOCLINIC.COM ~

WORDS

As I work to bring the children closer to God, I must discuss certain vocabulary terms with them. I always tell them that we like BIG, FANCY WORDS in the Catholic Religion...Transubstantiation, calumny, reconciliation, Eucharist, doxology, benediction, concelebration, and on, and on, and on.

I explain that usually, the bigger the word, the bigger the concept of God we are trying to convey. Yet, even the most supercalifragilisticexpialidocious-y word could NEVER explain the AWESOMENESS that is GOD!

It is important that our children know and understand the different ways we celebrate and come to relationship with God through Christ our Savior. It is important that the children learn the prayers of the Church.

More important, is our actual relationship with Christ and His Church. All the big words come down to very simple concepts:

Peace...Love...Forgiveness...Relationship.

So, how are those things working for YOU today?

Are YOU praying the prayers of the Church...fast and furiously...to hurry up and get them done?

Or are YOU talking AND listening to our Triune (oops, there's one of those fancy words for "3-in-1!") God and having a relationship...forging a friendship with Him?

Do YOU love the way Christ loves: totally and completely?

Or do YOU love with strings attached?

Do YOU ask forgiveness when you hurt others (c'mon now you know we are ALL human...we all hurt others...sometimes)?

Or are YOU always righteous in your indignation over the mere accusation that you might have erred (please comment and let me know how I can meet you, you're the first perfect person born since Christ!)?

Do YOU forgive others as Christ has forgiven us?

Or do YOU hold onto grudges because they keep you warm at night?

Tough questions to be sure.

YOU must look into YOUR OWN HEART for the answers...they are not here!

I had a discussion this afternoon with an old friend I hadn't seen in some time. It seems he and I are on similar paths at the moment. We spoke in my office for almost two whole hours.

Mostly, I was pouring my heart out to him. He is a wonderful listener!

As we took our leave of each other he gave me a hug and just kept repeating over and over in my ear "Peace...Peace...Peace...Peace."

A wonderful prayer/wish one for another.

As we walked to the elevator, we were talking about forgiveness. We have both come to the same conclusion...while we always forgive those who have hurt us...for those who refuse right relationship with us...we can only put the forgiveness out into the universe and, leave the rest to GOD...after all...when all is said and done, IT IS ALL HIS ANYWAY!