TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
17, 2009
So, I picked up this book
again Sunday (click on the title) and it is great stuff! Just a word of
reminder to all of you out there... although the Doctors and Fathers of the
Church have always taught this, we often forget it:
Nothing happens to us in life that is not God's will (except for sin.) But this even includes if people sin against us. This is crazy stuff, but it is true -and I suggest picking up this little 100 page book to remember and understand it.
And yet, even if God does not want sin, you can see others' sin against you also permitted by God (wanted in a way) for YOUR GOOD. He does not want the sin. But, He knows it is going to happen, so He purposefully places it near us so that we can be formed to His likeness by it. For that reason, you should never hold a grudge or even be mad at people who sin against you. God allowed their weakness and sin for your good. He was with you in it -trying to teach you through it -and if you can't let it go and forgive and forget over and over again (70x7 times) -you are wasting a grace and closing your heart to God's action in your life. So, a brother or sister does something to hurt you or your children -what do you do? THANK GOD for it and don't fight and blame and complain. Our all-loving, omnipotent, good Father sees EVERYTHING and allows EVERYTHING for our good. Maybe if the art teacher wasn't so mean, your daughter would never have dropped the course... and then, when she pursued art in college, she would have met a guy who ruined her life and caused her to sin mortally. You don't know. So, THANK GOD for the mean art teacher. Or, if someone treats you or your sister or your mom or your child mean -God allows this, maybe, to humble them -because when it comes down to it, they are prideful. And no sin is worse than that. God even allows our own sin (even if He does not want it) and uses it for His Own purposes when we release it to Him through asking for mercy and forgiveness. Maybe He let you fall into sin to humble you. Maybe He will use the greatest sin of your life (abortion, say) to help and save others -if you give it to Him and ask His grace to take it away and use it for good.
Nothing happens to us in life that is not God's will (except for sin.) But this even includes if people sin against us. This is crazy stuff, but it is true -and I suggest picking up this little 100 page book to remember and understand it.
And yet, even if God does not want sin, you can see others' sin against you also permitted by God (wanted in a way) for YOUR GOOD. He does not want the sin. But, He knows it is going to happen, so He purposefully places it near us so that we can be formed to His likeness by it. For that reason, you should never hold a grudge or even be mad at people who sin against you. God allowed their weakness and sin for your good. He was with you in it -trying to teach you through it -and if you can't let it go and forgive and forget over and over again (70x7 times) -you are wasting a grace and closing your heart to God's action in your life. So, a brother or sister does something to hurt you or your children -what do you do? THANK GOD for it and don't fight and blame and complain. Our all-loving, omnipotent, good Father sees EVERYTHING and allows EVERYTHING for our good. Maybe if the art teacher wasn't so mean, your daughter would never have dropped the course... and then, when she pursued art in college, she would have met a guy who ruined her life and caused her to sin mortally. You don't know. So, THANK GOD for the mean art teacher. Or, if someone treats you or your sister or your mom or your child mean -God allows this, maybe, to humble them -because when it comes down to it, they are prideful. And no sin is worse than that. God even allows our own sin (even if He does not want it) and uses it for His Own purposes when we release it to Him through asking for mercy and forgiveness. Maybe He let you fall into sin to humble you. Maybe He will use the greatest sin of your life (abortion, say) to help and save others -if you give it to Him and ask His grace to take it away and use it for good.
We on earth do not see the whole big picture. So, in humility, lets admit that we really don't know much about anything. Trustful surrender to God is the only path of true love. Jesus lived it on the Cross and we must imitate Him.
Look at yourselves today and decide on what is the greatest hurt of your life -to yourself, or someone in your family. And decide, everyday, in humility (not in judgement, pointing fingers, anger, complaint) but in real, loving humility -to LET IT GO in love. Love means allowing God's grace to pour out of us so fully that it swallows all the sins people commit against us. It makes us reach out and embrace especially in love those who hurt us or those who we love. We should especially want to be around 'difficult people'. Because they are instruments of God to make us holy. So, in little things and in big things, let's 'Praise the Lord.' He is God, you know.
Just a thought for the day. Unforgiveness only hurts you and those who you teach it to (primarily your children). Get a hold of this book -it will change your whole view of life and give you real peace, silence (a fruit of humility) and happiness.
Please, truly forgive. That is what is on my heart for you all. Truly forgive -the easiest way is to see all that happens (even the 'instruments' of our pain or frustration) as instruments in the loving hand of our Father Who controls everything. The first step in forgiveness is to pray ardentally every day for those who have hurt you most -giving your hurts to our Divine Doctor on the Cross. And one day, you'll wake up, and you'll realize that the pain is gone and in its place is an unexplicable love for those who have wounded you most. Only Love can transform your memory -but, in the love that only prayer can offer you, it can change your memory. Its happened to me. Jesus can fill you, if you ask, with His Memory of Love and Mercy from the Cross. This is one of the most important lessons you can teach your children. Maybe the most important -Forgiveness. Because Jesus says that to the degree you forgive, you will be forgiven. And if people would forgive more, then there would be much less sin in the world -wars could be stopped (yes, even by your forgiveness -because of the social affects of sin and grace).
So this is the fire in my heart for you today.
Love you all. +
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