See her books like "Questions to God", "Mend My Broken Heart", "To Love an Invisible God", "Defending My Catholic Faith", "Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief" and more - click here.
Subscribe to Single Catholic Writer and get the free e-book "Single People Can Be Happy, Too!"
(You may freely quote excerpts from this website as long as due credit is given to author Jocelyn Soriano and the website itakeoffthemask.com)
The smell of freshly cut grass,
has entered my window somehow.
It brought me back in time
when I had no worries,
when the only thing I thought about
was the next day’s adventures.
In a moment, I found myself there,
there where I was free
where I could be me
and it reminded me
of the things I could still be.
Such a little thing,
such a small waft of air
yet it saved me from despair
when it freed me
and made me see
all the many wonders
life still has in store for me.
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God.” – Ann Frank
I was just browsing the internet this morning when I thought I smelled something like newly cut grass. Since I was in my room, I felt I may have just imagined things. It’s been a long time since I was able to freely go out. The pandemic has somewhat confined me indoors.
Whether it was just my imagination or whether the smell of grass has somewhat found its way to my room, I’m still grateful. That smell has reminded me of those times I was walking along the park with loved ones, when I was free to move and run and breathe without fear of being sick or infected with a virus. That smell has reminded me of all those wonderful times I was able to travel to faraway places, enjoying the company of friends.
It’s amazing what gifts the little things could bring us. Sometimes, we don’t need a grand solution to all our problems. Sometimes, all we need is a little break, a little happiness, and a little reminder that there are still some good things in this world we’re living in.
“I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.” – Ann Frank
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts…” – Ecclesiastes 3:11, WEBBE
Today, whatever you may be going through, try to see things in the light of eternity and of God’s love.
In the light of eternity, all your troubles are passing away. All your tears will soon be wiped away. In the light of eternity, all our sufferings are short and would soon give way to joy, a joy that never ends.
This is not yet our home, because our home is in heaven. But here, while on our journey, we can still find comfort in each other’s company. Here, we can be friends. We can fight the battles that would yield for us eternal rewards. Here below, we can show how deeply we can love. We can love without looking for anything in return. We can love silently, patiently, wholeheartedly. We can love amidst all pain. We love beyond all our temporary trials.
So whatever may happen today, think about the eternal days God can bestow upon you. Think about that time when you can recover even more than what you have lost. Think and imagine looking back to your present. Though it’s hard and it’s lonely, there is never a time when you’re not covered by the love of God. Love is the only thing that will remain, and love will prove itself victorious above all.
“Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.”
? St. Teresa of Avila
Your heart wants to weep
But it can’t weep
Your eyes want to cry
But it can’t shed its tears.
And so you listen
To songs that weep
And you read stories
Where the hero cries.
Nobody sees
And nobody hears
When your heart screams
And your soul starts to bleed.
“The Lord said to me, The loss of each soul plunges Me into mortal sadness. You always console Me when you pray for sinners. The prayer most pleasing to Me is prayer for the conversion of sinners. Know, My daughter, that this prayer is always heard and answered.”
– Divine Mercy In My Soul, 1397
This entry from St. Faustina’s diary has made me realize many things. It has urged me to reflect very deeply about God’s love for us.
We’ve been too familiar with God’s wrath. As sinners, we fear God’s justice.
It is His mercy that we must learn about more. Mercy that comes from His Love. After all, God is Love.
When I read the above excerpt, it reminded me that even God can be sad, and He can be sad for souls who are lost.
This is a mystery. For how could Jesus, who is in heaven, and who is supposed to be in eternal joy even become sad?
But when we remember that God is Love, we can also come to realize that love is like that. Love wills for what is good. Love wills for life, not death. Love rejoices for the beloved’s good and weeps for the beloved’s fall.
No one is mightier or stronger than God. Yet even God has allowed Himself to weep for the sake of love.
“Mary arrived where Jesus was, and as soon as she saw him, she fell at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died!’
Jesus saw her weeping, and he saw how the people with her were weeping also; his heart was touched, and he was deeply moved. ‘Where have you buried him?’ he asked them.
‘Come and see, Lord,’ they answered.
Jesus wept. ‘See how much he loved him!’ the people said.”
– John 11:32-36, GNT