Category: Words of Wisdom

Sometimes, God gives us burdens so He can give us wings. – Jocelyn Soriano

I tried to escape your burdens, Lord. From troubles, I tried to flee. Little did I know they would strengthen me. Little did I know they would set me free.

For the burdens you give are sweet, Lord. They are sweet because You carry it with me. And the burdens you give are light, Lord. They are light because you turn them into wings to carry me!

When I see that the burden is beyond my strength, I do not consider or analyze it or probe into it, but I run like a child to the Heart of Jesus and say only one word to Him: “You can do all things .” And then I keep silent, because I know that Jesus himself will intervene in the matter, and as for me, instead of tormenting myself, I use that time to love Him. – St. Faustina, Divine Mercy In My Soul (1033)

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (WEB)

He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might. Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall; But those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40, WEBBE

Give me eyes to see beyond the mask of things: to see beyond weakness so I can find strength, to see beyond the disfigured, so I can find beauty and to see beyond the darkness so I can find the light! – Jocelyn Soriano

The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn’t darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light. – Luke 11, WEBBE

Give me eyes to see the true. Beyond the temporary, let me see the eternal. Beyond the darkness, let me see the light.

Give me eyes to see what’s within. Beyond what’s frail, let me see what’s strong. Beyond the disfigured, let me see what’s lovely and pure.

Give me eyes to see what’s precious. Beyond the sacrifice, let me see the love. Beyond the tears, let me see a joy that lasts.

Give me eyes to see for I have long been blind. I have stumbled and I have lost my way for I have followed paths not leading to life.

Let my eyes be opened so I may see. And beyond all the gloom and drudgery and misery, may I find hope to guide me, courage to strengthen me and compassion to heal me from this day forth and always.

TO LOOK USING GOD’S OWN EYES

I pray I could learn
to look at people,
the way God sees each one of us –

to be able to forego the little mistakes,
maybe even the big ones

to be able to see weaknesses
turned into strength

to know something’s hurting
and yet know that the hurt
would be healed in time

to look beyond judgment
to see with an understanding heart
to see what’s beautiful
to appreciate what’s good

to not measure anybody’s destiny
with their present plight

but to see real hope for everyone
the way God sees us

To know that orphans
have their Father

To know that those imprisoned
have One who will set them free

To see how the poor
will one day bask in God’s abundance

To see the brokenhearted
in days when God Himself
will cradle them upon His lap
To be able to see with God’s own eyes
is to see with gladness,
with hope,
and with a love so strong
it could never ever fail!

“Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave.” – Pope Benedict XVI

We learn to love each other when we begin to realize how truly unique and wonderful we are. Like seashells along the shore, no one is entirely alike, each is crafted with an imprint of God’s hand, each one different and special, each one valuable and loved! – Jocelyn Soriano

We all want to be special in one way or another. It is not enough that we are taken care of, we must be seen. It is not enough that we are loved, we must be known and loved for who we really are.

In our desire to be special, however, we try to imitate those who are well admired. We do all we can to be just like them, and along the way, we forget our own uniqueness and beauty.

God has given to each one a special beauty that only he or she can exude. We need not be dismayed that we are not like the ones people praise. In order to shine, we should only be true to who we really are.

Where I Fit In

I can’t help it at times, if I trip when I walk
Or I sing some notes out of tune.
I am not like ones you’ve seen
on movie scenes –
Lovely, witty and sweet.
I am not the shy underdog
with a heart of gold,
or that daring adventurous girl
full of charm.
I fall short trying to fit in,
where I cannot fit in,
trying to be beautiful,
trying to be good.

I look at me
and I cannot see
what He sees,
how someone could love
the likes of me.
But as I look into His eyes
all I know
is that I am loved,
every bit of me – loved.

And I fall for Him,
fearfully yet joyfully,
I fall…
I let myself surrender all –
my hurts, my doubts,
my anger, my insecurities.
And they all vanish
at the sight of Him.

I am moved,
I am thrilled,
I am healed,
every bit of me –
accepted and made whole.

Without even trying to,
He changes me.
Into His own likeness,
He fashions me.
And I sink deeper
into His affections,
where I lose myself
without truly being lost,
where I discover another me,
the one I’ve always
been meant to be!

And it doesn’t matter anymore
that I could never fit in
anywhere else,
for there I’ve found my place,
for there I’ve found myself,
the one He sees,
the one He truly loves!

Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. – Isaiah 43, WEBBE

The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone. – Harriet Beecher Stowe

At the end of our lives, we’d be surprised at what our biggest regrets shall be.

Our biggest regret won’t be that we have been kinder than we should have been.

Our biggest regret won’t be that we have forgiven someone who did not deserve our mercy.

Our biggest regret won’t be that we have allowed our hearts to trust someone who will only hurt us in the end.

Our biggest regret shall be that we have been less kind than we should have been.

Our biggest regret shall be that we have not forgiven someone who has sought for our mercy.

Our biggest regret shall be that we have not loved, and that we have hurt those whom God has sent our way to be loved.

“But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also. Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.” – Luke 6, WEBBE

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. -Matthew 5, WEBBE

Blessed are those who mourn, those who walk the valley of tears and have no one to lean on to when they cry.

Blessed are those whose hearts are broken, who have been failed by those whom they held dearest in their hearts.

Blessed are those who fall and have no more strength to carry on.

Blessed are those who have searched for so long and found nothing in the world to fill the emptiness of their souls.

Blessed are you. Blessed indeed is your sigh!

Blessed are you because there is a God who hears, a God who won’t turn you away when your cry.

Your heart has been left desolate of worldly happiness, and it is now empty enough for the King of Kings to fill.

You have been failed by many lovers and now you stand ready for Him who is Most Compassionate and True.

Your strength has left you, now you can be refreshed with power that knows no end.

Blessed are you, blessed is your sorrow. For it has made way for eternal joys to come and dwell in you!

Every suffering can be blessed because it hollows out a place in us for God and his comfort, which is infinite joy. – Peter Kreeft, Back to Virtue