I Take off the MASK!

Grief and Healing - Download the eBook

They have made it a desolation.
It mourns to me, being desolate.
The whole land is made desolate,
because no one cares.
-Jeremiah 12:11, WEB

There are times when the whole world seems like an empty desert. Amidst millions of people, there is none to find, none to give what is needed.

People go about their daily lives as though they could no longer stop and make a difference somewhere else. Everyone goes about trying to accomplish something without being able to do what really needs to be done.

If only people can start caring again. If only we could notice those begging for our attention, crying for our compassion.

We are human beings after all, brothers and sisters to one another. We have been given eyes to see, hands to reach out to others, hearts to bear one another’s pain.

If we could only realize how great our opportunity is to make a difference in the life of another, to make this world a bit better than it used to be, maybe we can be more in touch with our souls, and maybe we can finally realize that we are not meant to be alone.

“I pray that you will understand the words of Jesus, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Ask yourself “How has he loved me? Do I really love others in the same way?” Unless this love is among us, we can kill ourselves with work and it will only be work, not love. Work without love is slavery.” – Mother Teresa

The LORD, your God, is amongst you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing. -Zephaniah 3:14-17, WEB-BE

There is something a bit tricky about loving yourself. It’s important to be really honest. You also have to be brave. Add to that a touch of gentleness and understanding and as much forgiveness as you could possibly give. Above all,trust in God’s love for you.

There can be times when you will really find it hard to love yourself, to see what good there is in you. Times like that, you can try to think of a person you really loved. What was there in him that you loved? That despite all his faults and shortcomings still manages to shine through?

Surely he wasn’t perfect all the time. He wasn’t always in his best light. Still, you believed that what was good in him was there. No matter how hidden or clouded it may have been, it can still sprout like a seed coming forth from the ground. And you wanted that seed to grow, every bit of that beauty to fully blossom in time.

Not that you didn’t love him for who he was. But that you see something more. Something that was truly in him all that time, waiting to be fully manifested and seen.

“Jesus wants me to tell you again…how much is the love He has for each one of you-beyond all what you can imagine…Not only He loves you, even more–He longs for you. He misses you when you don’t come close. He thirsts for you. He loves you always, even when you don’t feel worthy…” – Mother Teresa

“I would rather make mistakes in kindness and compassion than work miracles in unkindness and hardness.”- Mother Teresa

The true miracle is not that the sick are healed, but that they who are healed finally believe in the God who healed them. And how could we believe if not for love? How could anyone ever believe without compassion?

Let kindness do its work quietly. Let gentleness have its way. Even if you feel you labor in vain, be patient and trust in the strength of love.

It is love that changes us within. It is love that saves. It is love that makes a miracle.

If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient and is kind. – 1 Corinthians 13:1-4, WEB

“Humility is the mother of all virtues… It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.”- Mother Teresa

To be truly humble is to be honest with oneself, not puffed up with pride, but not lacking in self-worth either. For humility is not found when we look down on ourselves nor when when we put ourselves above others. It is found when our spiritual eyes are clear and we are able to see who we truly are.

We can only find ourselves in God. In His eyes, we see our lowliness, but we also see our dignity as His children. We see how we fail, but we also see Someone who believes in us enough that we can rise again after each fall.

Humility comes from love, and is sealed in gratitude. When the heart is grateful for God’s infinite love for us, we don’t need to look anywhere else for security. We know that we are valued and loved.

When pride comes, then comes shame,
but with humility comes wisdom.
-Proverbs 11:2, WEB

“Truth is not determined by a majority vote.” – Pope Benedict XVI

Never settle to what the majority of people say. The popular opinion is not always the right opinion.

Pressure may come when we have to stand up for the truth alone. But then we are not alone if God is with us.

No matter what other people say, let us not be disheartened if we know we are in the right. Remember that you are not alone. God is Truth Himself, and He will defend you from those who want to believe a lie.

People can say so much, but only God has the final say. When we try to please God alone, He will never let us down.

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ. – Galatians 1:10, WEB