True peace is found in faith. Christianity is my foundation for building patience, joy, humor, trust, respect, and other virtues. Faith makes joyful moments more meaningful and the difficult ones bearable.
Jack can entertain himself for almost an hour playing with dirt, feeling its gritty bits sift through his soft fingers and analyzing its properties with scientific concentration. I watch in awe of his God-given curiosity in nature’s beauty. This moment is bigger than Jack or I. There is divine goodness and love at work. I thank God for this time.
And, I ask Him for help, so very, very much help when I’m fiercely taking a hair dryer to Jack’s shoes so we can get to church on time after he has just dropped them in the dog’s water bowl, and this after I’ve said ten times excuse me, we do not put things in Cowboy’s bowl because that’s disrespectful to our loving dog who graciously tolerates you and now, sir, you might have to wear stinky, soppy shoes to church because the Lord isn’t going to be put on hold for stinky, soppy. God help us!”
Yes . . . God, help us. Please, help me.
And, He does. Sometimes that help comes in a smile from Jack, a light-hearted joke from my husband, or a forgiving look from Cowboy, whose droopy eyes say I hear you sister. Later in the day, while we’re enjoying a walk to the park, I’ve forgotten about the soppy shoes. The hectic moment was just that―a frustrating moment, not a crumbling foundation.
Relying on God’s help though wasn’t a momentary plea. If my understanding of and relationship with God existed in momentary pleas, I wouldn’t really know whom I was talking to, nor would I know how to listen.
I try to learn more about God by reading Scripture, praying, and participating in the Sacraments of the Eucharist and of Reconciliation. I like the publication Word Among Us. Each daily reading is accompanied by a short but thoughtful reflection and prayer.
I try to pray throughout the day, especially if I can feel myself losing my temper. I ask God to help me be thankful for what I have and to remember a great bit of wisdom that a friend recently shared: children have never done this before; everything is new. So, Jack has never seen so much water and is discovering that the substance in the bath, the baby pool, and the dog’s bowl are the same. Fascinating.
With faith at the center of things, I find that other little ways of living in the moment and cultivating peace come more easily. Next up: #2 Eat Well Together!
Ann… I continue to enjoy your blog series.