Wisdom for Wednesdays

"Prayer is a movement of the heart, a simple look cast toward Heaven, a cry of recognition and love in the midst of trial as in the midst of joy; finally, it is something great and supernatural which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus."

-St. Therese of Lisieux

Why We Serve

Thank you.

Today I heard those words so. many. times. They were heartfelt. Sometimes with tired eyes that looked into mine and pierced my own heart. Other times the eyes couldn’t quite meet mine because of shame or embarrassment or burdens that weighed them down.

Eyes and voices that belonged to the patients I served today at the monthly free clinic run by two local hospitals.

They gave thanks for the little we were giving them.

And somehow, each time I heard those words and felt the honest appreciation behind them, I connected to that person. These were my brothers and sisters. I only gave because of what I have been given.

Salvation. Love. Grace. In abundance....Read the rest of this article at The Catholic Young Woman

Wisdom for Wednesdays

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

-Romans 8:15

Three Hearts: A DVD Review

This DVD came at such a great time for me in the wake of returning from the mission trip. (But then again, God has a way of working things like that!)

Three Hearts is a beautiful documentary on the work and ministry for The Children's Heart Project. A branch of Samaritan's Purse, the project brings children from countries where pediatric heart surgery is not available to the U.S., where they receive their much-needed operations. This film follows the journeys of three particular children who received care and surgery from the Children's Heart Project. The giggling three-year-old girl from Mongolia will melt. your. heart.

Though some of the parts at the beginning felt a little slow and drawn-out (keeping it real!), I was moved to tears by the stories and ministry. It was incredible to see the hope and gratitude of the children and their mommas. I loved being pulled out of my little bubble and traveling across the world and into their lives. Part of me wanted to quit my job in cardiology and work with a ministry like this!

[Thank you, Booksneeze, for sending me Samaritan's Purse Presents Three Hearts: A World Away, Three Children Need a Miracle at no charge for review purposes. These are my honest and original comments.]

Wisdom for Wednesday

"Every person, from the first moment of his life in the womb, has an inviolable dignity, because from all eternity God willed, loved, created, and redeemed that person and destined him for eternal happiness."

-Catechism of the Catholic Church

Good Friday

Then they crucified him.

With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself by coming down from the cross." Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, "He saved others; he cannot save himself.

"Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe."

-Mark 15:27-32

As I listened to Mark's account of the Passion being read at church last weekend, this part stood out from the rest. My eyes locked on the words as my heart knocked on the door of my memory. A few verses describing the mocking of Jesus as He hung on a cross for the same men laughing at Him. It hadn't seemed significant to me before as it did now in this moment.

Because when I heard it this time, I read something deeper and universal in their words.

Doubt.

While I would be horrified to mock Jesus in the way Mark describes, doubt is something a bit more familiar to me.

The Pharisees and those passing by doubted He could or would come down from the cross.

In my own life, how many times have I doubted not that He could work in my life...but that He would? How many times have I looked at heartache and struggle and storms...and wondered how He was going to get me through it?

Perhaps even His friends that stood beneath Him at the cross wondered why He stayed there. Did they wonder how He could perform such incredible miracles the past three years, only to have it end like this? Why wasn't He proving He was the Son of God, that He was the Messiah, the King?

We know the end of the story. We know that He was proving it by staying on the cross. That only a few days later He would rise victoriously over death. A conqueror. A king. A savior.

I'm so thankful, so overwhelmed, by His decision to stay on the cross. For us. That He ignored the mocking and taunting and challenges because He saw the bigger picture. Eternity hung in the balance.

So too in our lives we remember that He sees the bigger picture. When we wonder why He seems distant, why He's not changing our situation, why our efforts fall short of our goals...He is still there. Still working. Still completely in love with us and caring for us. Our vision is limited, but the resurrection is coming.

Wishing you all a beautiful and blessed celebration this weekend of the events of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

Because He lives,
Laura

Wisdom for Wednesdays

Let nothing trouble you.
Let nothing frighten you.
Everything passes.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all.
Whoever has God wants for nothing.
God alone is enough.

-St. Teresa of Avila