Friday, January 5, 2018

Dear God,

Every morning I sit with St. Francis and St. Theresa of Lisieux.  I listen to their story and hear their song.  Always it is for love of you.

What makes a person toss their way of life for the pilgrim path?  What inspires individuals to change direction?  What motivates people to seek your will instead of their own?  It can only be love.

When I think of human love and its capacity and generosity, I think of my godly grandmother.  An ordinary farm woman with an extraordinary love made faith real to me.  When I watched Grandma read her Upper Room magazine, I sensed she was sitting with Jesus.  When she smiled I perceived I was looking into the face of God.  When she made our favorite foods and placed them on the table, I felt like I was eating at the heavenly banquet.  She was faith to me, a lover of Jesus and all around her, and a compassionate giver in every way.

As I sit and read my devotions, in some ways it is like being down on the farm and then upwards to heaven.  All my senses are heightened.  I am awakened to faith and the joy of being Christian.  I return to my grandmother and to my God and I am filled...so filled with gratitude.

Why me,
O Lord,
why me?
Why do
you fill me up
with your goodness?
When I
examine my
own life
and quickly discover
my own
flaws and imperfections,
I ask again,
Why me,
O Lord,
why me?
Thank you,
O Blessed One,
for the gift
of YOU.

Love, Andrea