I Take off the MASK!

As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:4-5, WEB-BE

God’s love flows even through imperfect people. There is good in each one of us. There is a kind of light that we reflect, a beauty for others to see. But to mistake that good or light or beauty to the Source of all Goodness, Beauty and Light is to be constantly disappointed and dissatisfied.

People can make us happy, but it is not within their power to make us always happy. People can be there for us, but it is not realistic to expect that they will be there for us each time that we need them. No matter how hard people try, they are bound to fall short in loving us.

This is why it takes much forgiveness and sacrifice to make human relationships work. Without forgiveness, how could we ever go on with each other? We can search the whole world and not find a single soul that won’t ever disappoint us one way or the other.

All of us are but branches from a vine. Cut off and by ourselves, we wither and hurt others instead of making them happy. God is the vine, the true source of life and love.

Let us strive to become better instruments of God’s love, branches that truly grow well, connected to each other through the true vine that never lets us down.

“How can a heart given up to human affections be closely united to God? It seems to me that it is impossible. I have seen so many souls, allured by this false light, fly right into it like poor moths, and burn their wings, and then return, wounded, to Our Lord, the Divine fire which burns and does not consume.” – Thérèse de Lisieux

“If I did not simply live from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient, but I only look at the present, I forget the past, and I take good care not to forestall the future.” – Thérèse de Lisieux

The past is there for lessons learned and for memories to be treasured. The future is there to inspire us and to give us a joyful vision no matter how hard our current struggles are. For the present moment, we are given a gift and an opportunity; we are given life and grace and every blessing we need to live and to overcome.

Let us not be afraid of our needs tomorrow. Only the present moment is given us, its troubles as well as its blessings, its problems as well as its provisions.

God makes the sun to rise each day. He supplies the air we breathe from one moment to the next. Will He not supply for all our needs tomorrow?

Fear not if you do not know yet the many steps you need to accomplish your plans. Take it one step at a time, one God-given day at a time. God is there not only in our tomorrows, but He is GOD WITH US, every step of the way.

Give us today our daily bread. – Matthew 6:11, WEB-BE

“When one loves, one does not calculate.”- Thérèse de Lisieux

Love does not calculate. When we love, we do not count how many times we have forgiven, or how many sacrifices we have made. We do not keep track how many times our love has been returned or how many gifts we have been given back.

Love flows freely. All it wants is to be shared with sincerity so that the beloved may feel that he or she is loved.

If we count the benefits that we have derived from love, then we are not really loving. We may only be investing something as we do in a business so we can earn something back, something more.

Love on the other hand always wants to give more. It is in giving that it grows. It is in the offering of oneself that one really lives.

Let us not limit love. It could not be bound. Let us not count what love can do or has done. Love is infinite. Love is immeasurable.

And above all things be earnest in your love amongst yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:8, WEB-BE

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.”- Aristotle

Patience is like oil that keeps us from the friction of daily conflict and misunderstanding. Without patience, we easily fall into arguments; we say words we regret sooner or later.

It would have been comforting to believe that the patience we need in our relationships and daily life is but a little patience requiring almost no effort at all. The truth however is that most of the patience we really need is extraordinary.

It is not to our liking to be hindered or criticized. It is not to our liking to be offended or to be continuously interrupted. Whatever patience we exert in order to be silent as we are offended, or to forgive when someone does something contrary to our desires, that is true patience. It is true because we feel it battling with our pride. It is extraordinary because we choose to absorb this suffering instead of inflicting pain or of seeking revenge.

Extraordinary patience is what we need daily to keep our relationships from falling apart. It keeps conflicts from getting bigger. It smoothens a rough day instead of contributing to discord.

It certainly takes a lot of effort and prayer, but if we could be patient enough, we could support each other in our weaknesses and we could bless our ordinary days with extraordinary love.

Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. – Colossians 3:12-14, WEB-BE

“You can find something truly important in an ordinary minute.”
– Mitch Albom, For One More Day

Love is in our daily mess of living. In our small talks and in our household chores. In our daily meals and in our leisure hours. In our busy mornings and in our late night chats.

Love is there as we go about our work and our play, as we shop for our groceries, as we teach the kids their homeworks, as we care for our sick folks, and as we talk about our plans for the future.

Love survives our times of crisis and our moments of pain. It remains hopeful in moments of misunderstandings and in times of hurt.

Love is in a million words of kindness and in countless acts of goodwill, sacrifice and sharing. It is not just a word or a promise made in time. It is a way of life that we choose to walk daily as we show up everyday with all our triumphs and losses, our laughter and our tears.

Love is in the ordinary, in the steady flow of life which leads us ever closer and stronger than before. We may fail to see it for what it really is, but as we look back, we can recognize that extraordinary thread that has kept us together and that has certainly made life worth living for.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. – Ecclesiastes 3:11, WEB-BE

“And while it takes courage to achieve greatness, it takes more courage to find fulfillment in being ordinary. For the joys that last have little relationship to achievement, to standing one step higher on the victory platform. What is the adventure in being ordinary? It is daring to love just for the pleasure of giving it away. It is venturing to give new life and to nurture it to maturity. It is working hard for the pure joy of being tired at the end of the day. It is caring and sharing and giving and loving…” – Marilyn Thomsen

“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” – Thérèse de Lisieux