>From LifeTimes Catholic eZine
Serenity, Courage, and Wisdom
by Christine G. Law
We live in a world torn by war, yet we long for peace. We hate our
neighbors, kill our babies, and ignore our beloved. Still, we cry
out for a better world. How many times have you promised yourself
you'd be patient, only to lose your temper time and again? And how
often have you begged Calgon. to take you away?
Perhaps it's time to stop longing, crying, promising and begging --
and start praying!
"God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change"
I have often wondered why humanity continuously cries out for
something that we don't really understand. Peace? We don't know the
meaning of the word. How could we possibly know? The world has only
truly known peace once in its entire existence.
Adam & Eve disturbed an eternity of peaceful bliss when they broke
their sacred covenant with Our Lord. Since that time, we have longed
for Eden's serenity with outstretched arms and weeping hearts. And
it is a longing that I've come to realize I cannot possibly fulfill.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can do incredible things.
However, stepping forward and facilitating world peace is probably
not one of them. But there is more to "peace" than political
maneuvering and treaties among nations. "Peace" is something that
can be built from the bottom up -- the ideal focus of a grass roots
campaign. Peace can start at home.
"The Courage to change the things I can"
I may not have the ability to change the balance of power in the
global community, but I can look around at the faces of my three
very active children and see that I have a small community of my own
to which I must tend.
I thrive on order and organization. So each day, I run through my
mental list, checking off tasks that have been accomplished. I tend
to weigh my self-worth by the number of tasks I have successfully
completed at the end of each day, and thus any form of chaos leaves
me teetering on the brink of total meltdown. My children, bless
their hearts, give a whole new meaning to the word "chaos".
Christ said, "Suffer thee the little children." (Mark 10:13-16) And
"suffer", I do!
And that is when I need courage from the Lord. The courage to
recognize that my habits and preferences may not be what is best for
my children. The courage to let them be children, but to step in
when appropriate.
The little imps can totally frustrate and irritate one moment -- and
totally captivate with a gentle hug or teasing smile the next -- if
we have the courage to recognize God's grace in them. With the
Lord's help, we can truly see the value of that child. If we can see
the intrinsic value in the tiny face of that frustrating child, that
is the first step towards seeing the intrinsic value of other human
beings. It is the first step towards peace.
"And the Wisdom to know the difference"
In today's society, life has become insanely fast-paced. We
continually race to the finish line. But in our haste, we often lose
sight of the prize. Just what or who are we running towards? When I
forget the goal, I find myself wanting to give up at the first
hurdle -- but "wisdom" allows me to continue.
You see, life is not necessarily a hurdling event. Life is more of
an obstacle course. Sometimes you go over, sometimes you go around;
under and through are options as well. The wisdom of the Holy
Spirit, a gift that we receive through our Confirmation, helps us
decide what to do.
I often think that I know what is best for my life. I forget that I
do not need to fly solo, and that God has His own plan for me, which
began even before I was formed in my mother's womb. (Isaiah 49)
It is during those moments -- when I lose sight of God as the pilot
-- that chaos reigns supreme. When I want to change things beyond my
control, or fail to change the things I can, I begin to feel lost
and alone. I long for peace, cry out for a better world, promise
myself I'll be patient, and then simply beg Calgon. to take me away.
But when I remember that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is walking
right beside me, I can reach out to him instead. I can lean on the
Lord as I go about my day, teaching and guiding my children, and
doing whatever possible to make this world a better place.
And I can open my heart and listen for his voice as I say the prayer
that has so often crossed my lips:
"God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot
change,
The Courage to change the things I can,
And the Wisdom to know the difference"
Life Applications:
Am I conducting my life according to God's will or my own?
Do I accept the Lord's presence in my life? Am I willing to be His
faithful servant?
Where do I seek peace and serenity when I am troubled? Do I turn
first to God?
Copyright 2003 by Christine G. Law
All rights reserved.
LifeTimes Catholic eZine!
(See attached file: IBS_Disclaimer.txt) =============================================================================== This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. For more info on the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet To unsubscribe from the list send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet/join In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] ===============================================================================
