What are the
best gifts that we can give in this world; even better than a clay handprint
from a first grader? Time and prayers.
When time is
gone, no amount of money can buy it back. Prayers contain a power beyond this
world. If we could chose between a
million dollars or a million prayers for our intentions, which do you think
would be a better investment?
gone, no amount of money can buy it back. Prayers contain a power beyond this
world. If we could chose between a
million dollars or a million prayers for our intentions, which do you think
would be a better investment?
Find Time
In Teresa
Tomeo’s latest book, Walk
Softly and Cary a Great Bag: On-the-go Devotions, her brief reflections ask
us to move forward (spiritually) by stopping long enough to let in the
spiritual. She tells us: “Don’t just do
something, sit there.” But we have stuff to do!
Lots of it!
Tomeo’s latest book, Walk
Softly and Cary a Great Bag: On-the-go Devotions, her brief reflections ask
us to move forward (spiritually) by stopping long enough to let in the
spiritual. She tells us: “Don’t just do
something, sit there.” But we have stuff to do!
Lots of it!
“Be still
and know that I am God” (Psalm
46:10). Okay, then. How can we argue
with that?
and know that I am God” (Psalm
46:10). Okay, then. How can we argue
with that?
“We can’t
give what we don’t have and how many of us feel like we have nothing left at the
end of the day?” Tomeo asks. I used to feel that way, but I’ve learned to put
it on pause to spend time with God, family, and others. Even if we can’t slip away for a weekend
retreat, Tomeo suggests at least finding grace-filled moments to be still with
the Lord. “… just be still and know that God is God.”
give what we don’t have and how many of us feel like we have nothing left at the
end of the day?” Tomeo asks. I used to feel that way, but I’ve learned to put
it on pause to spend time with God, family, and others. Even if we can’t slip away for a weekend
retreat, Tomeo suggests at least finding grace-filled moments to be still with
the Lord. “… just be still and know that God is God.”
In prayer,she writes “Remind me that the world
will not end if I take a break from the hustle and bustle to be with you. It
might even be a better place, because every moment with you makes me a better
person.” Likewise, in her chapter, “I Am
Woman, Hear Me Snore,” Tomeo takes women to task for not getting enough rest. She
suggests stepping away from the notion that we can “have it all,” and find
ourselves some rest.
It’s too easy to fall into the trap of
thinking time well spent is time accomplishing worldly things. Sometimes it
is. But taking time for needed rest is
time well spent too.
thinking time well spent is time accomplishing worldly things. Sometimes it
is. But taking time for needed rest is
time well spent too.
Prayer,
The Gift that Keeps Giving
The Gift that Keeps Giving
Once we find
some time, we should fill at least some of it with prayer. “It is never true to say that we have no time
to meditate; the less one thinks of God, the less time there will always be for
God” –Ven. Fulton Sheen.
some time, we should fill at least some of it with prayer. “It is never true to say that we have no time
to meditate; the less one thinks of God, the less time there will always be for
God” –Ven. Fulton Sheen.
Pray will give us some of the rest we are
seeking. “Prayer is the place of refuge
for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness,
a protection against sadness,” -St. John
Chrysostom.
seeking. “Prayer is the place of refuge
for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness,
a protection against sadness,” -St. John
Chrysostom.
It is a gift we can give generously to
others. “What souls we can convert by our prayers. The one who
saves a soul from hell saves this soul and his own as well,” -St. Jean Marie
Baptiste Vianney.
others. “What souls we can convert by our prayers. The one who
saves a soul from hell saves this soul and his own as well,” -St. Jean Marie
Baptiste Vianney.
Prayers are also agift we must give even to those who seem to be our enemies. “But I say to you,
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons
of our Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on
the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” –Jesus Christ.
In the end, however,
the more generous we are with our prayers, the more we receive. “He who prays most receives most,” St.
Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.
the more generous we are with our prayers, the more we receive. “He who prays most receives most,” St.
Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.
Ways to Give
When kids ask what we want for Mother’s Day
or our birthday, ask them to pray a rosary for you or an hour of adoration, or
help with housekeeping to free up time for you.
or our birthday, ask them to pray a rosary for you or an hour of adoration, or
help with housekeeping to free up time for you.
· Spend time
with someone who will appreciate it or help them with their workload or
childcare.
with someone who will appreciate it or help them with their workload or
childcare.
· Volunteer
your time to a worthy cause.
your time to a worthy cause.
· Give the
gift of prayer or time in adoration. You don’t even always have to tell the
person if it’s someone who would not understand. It’s a gift that gives back to
you in rest and graces.
gift of prayer or time in adoration. You don’t even always have to tell the
person if it’s someone who would not understand. It’s a gift that gives back to
you in rest and graces.
· Cut out
unnecessary activities that suck up time with no rewards. Imagine what you can
do with an extra hour a day, 365 hours in a year.
unnecessary activities that suck up time with no rewards. Imagine what you can
do with an extra hour a day, 365 hours in a year.
· Take
time. Don’t wait for it to find you.
Carve out time to rest, exercise, pray and to spend with others.
time. Don’t wait for it to find you.
Carve out time to rest, exercise, pray and to spend with others.
· Give
yourself as a gift. Elderly people in
nursing homes, people in hospitals, new neighbors or someone who lives alone
might enjoy your company. How can you cheer up a friend or relative who has
been feeling down?
yourself as a gift. Elderly people in
nursing homes, people in hospitals, new neighbors or someone who lives alone
might enjoy your company. How can you cheer up a friend or relative who has
been feeling down?
· Give Anonymously. Some people don’t understand and won’t appreciate your
prayers. Give anyways.
prayers. Give anyways.
· Give to strangers. Pray also for anyone who crosses your path and for the
suffering everywhere, including Purgatory.
suffering everywhere, including Purgatory.
We have
enough time for everything God has for us to do unless our to-do list is not
the same as God’s list for us. By adding
more time and more prayer to our lives and giving freely of those gifts to
others, we will also experience more God. It’s all free, just as God gives to us. So give generously.
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enough time for everything God has for us to do unless our to-do list is not
the same as God’s list for us. By adding
more time and more prayer to our lives and giving freely of those gifts to
others, we will also experience more God. It’s all free, just as God gives to us. So give generously.
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For more inspiration check out the Amazing Grace Series. Follow Patti at Twitter and Pinterest, like her pages at Dear God Books, Big Hearted Families, Catholic News & Inspiration on Facebook, and her author Facebook page. Sign up at the right column to receive articles in your inbox. God bless you!
