Calming The Storm

Funny I should read the day after I went to Mass, as one of the things I prayed about was for Jesus to help calm my inner storms so that I can keep moving forward. When we put our trust in Him, and take baby steps forward, it gives us hope that things will get better.

Recall the story of Jesus calming the storm (Matthew 8:23-27). This miraculous act was done as a prophetic sign of Him bringing you peace during the particular challenges you face in life. Jesus did this on a practical level for the safety and well-being of His Apostles. However, by showing that He had absolute and immediate authority over the storm at sea, Jesus also made it clear that He has absolute and immediate authority over any storm within your life, pledging His closeness in your midst. It should be consoling to you to know that there is nothing too much for God’s omnipotence. He can do all things and can bring peace to any and every situation. Knowing this should give you confidence as you surrender your “storms” to Him. And when the storm remains fierce, despite your prayers, you should be assured that it is for your good or the good of others.  It’s an opportunity to deepen your trust in Him and to know of His particular closeness in those moments.

Identify the storm in your life right now. And if things are relatively calm, be grateful but also call to mind that this will not always be the case. Life can “change on a dime” as has been said.  We must be ready for anything and everything that befalls us. As you ponder a storm of life, ask yourself whether you believe Jesus is there, in the midst, by your side, keeping you safe. Do you know that He could solve any problem instantaneously? Reassure yourself of this fact and allow this faith to add confidence to your troubled heart. The Lord’s love for you is perfect; He will never let you drown.

Lord, I trust in Your almighty power and unconditional love. I trust that You care about me and are present in every storm I face in life. Give me hope in the midst of every trial and enable me to turn to You as the source of my peace. I love You, dear Lord.  Jesus, I trust in You.

(From Reflection 232: Calming The Storm, August 20,2019)

https://divinemercy.life/daily-reflections

Mental Illness, Faith, and Patron Saints

There seems to be a patron saint for almost anything and any place. So, when I came across this article, I found it really quite interesting that there are saints that we can invoke spiritual support from for our mental illnesses. The story of St. Dymphna was truly heartbreaking. I shared it with my daughter who thought the same thing. But, we can use her story as inspiration for our own trials. AND....we need to share our trials with others so we can inspire and uplift them, as well. God never gives us problems without a way to use them for the good of ourselves and others.


As one who suffers from anxiety and depression, it makes life really hard. Recently I ventured out by myself and went to an early evening Mass at a nearby Franciscan chapel. That was a big thing for me. I really haven't been anywhere on my own in quite some time. But, I felt I needed to be there, so off I went. And I was glad to have gone. Unfortunately, my anxiety wouldn't leave me alone enough to enjoy the peace and serenity of it all, but it still was an accomplishment. The whole idea is to at least do SOMETHING, no matter how small. AND... be proud of yourself for accomplishing it, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

Give this article a read. If nothing else, it will give you some hope that you can keep surviving and moving forward. https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/mental-illness-patron-saints-6296?fbclid=IwAR30K5Np3eQjI0mqkycPB_TkHzWudUmPrQ0Q1ydBEwcDU17JjVlTkrCpqCc

Sending Love and Blessings. 😊💙✝️

Quiet Introspection

The last few days I’ve been rather quiet. I just don’t feel like talking. It is in these times that I do my best thinking. I read, I think , I write. 

Sometimes in life, when it all seems overwhelming, you need to just shut out the rest of the world and withdraw inwards. There is nothing wrong with that, so don’t let anyone make you feel that it’s a bad thing. It’s called self-preservation. BUT (there’s always a ‘but’, isn’t there?! Lol)…DON’T focus on the negative. Focus on your “inner you” in order to get back in balance. Meditate, do yoga, pray, say the rosary…whatever makes you comfortable.

In this world of 'hurry up’ and keep moving, we sometimes need to apply the brakes and turn the engine off. When the steam comes pouring forth, bubbling furiously, it's a signal that you need to stop before you boil over. I don’t mean that you can hibernate (unless you can and want to), your daily life does not need to come to a screeching halt. It just means you need to be quiet. You don’t need a constant stream of conversation, you don’t need all that external stimuli. Go about your day, but create for yourself a little “bubble”.

Let’s say you’re having a crazy morning. You got up late, your spouse/significant other is in a bad mood, the dog just peed on the floor and there is a mountain of dishes in the sink. Take a breath. It will all get done. One step at a time. Wrap yourself in your bubble. 

Oh look..the sun’s out! ☀️ Poor doggie…he didn’t mean to make your life harder. He just really needed to pee and couldn’t hold it any more. Grab some paper towels and mop it up (and don’t forget to was your hands!). Pet the dog, reassure him/her you still love them. 🐩🐾

So s.o. is in a bad mood? You didn’t cause it and you can’t fix it. Just don’t add to it. Ask God for patience (trust me, it’s easier than coming up with bail money!) and try to be understanding. It will pass.

You woke up late? ⏰ Nothing you can do about it now. You’re already up and moving. Keep putting one foot in front of the other…👣👣

Those dishes…yup, they’ll still be there later when all is quiet and you can get to them. The world won’t fall apart if they’re not done. It’s the least of your problems…

Finally….it’s quiet. You can grab that cup of coffee ☕☕ without rushing around. Sit with it a moment. I love the smell of coffee. There’s just something inherently soothing about the aroma. To me, it feels like home in a mug. 💙☕

Breathe…yup..in, out…slowly…. See…the world is still spinning. Now, take you and your bubble and see what you can accomplish! Be proud of yourself for just getting out of bed and surviving your crazy morning! It’s the little things that mean the most!!

Sending Love and Blessings……😊✝️💙

Fidelity in the face of suffering

Today we celebrate the Passion of St. John the Baptist. A man clearly after God’s heart. But, that begs the question of why God allows suffering or persecution. I just read a quote from St. Teresa of Avila, where she poses to God, “If this is how you treat Your friends, I can see why You have so few.” We see God as a God of Mercy, of forgiveness. So, why does He allow us, and others, to bear burdens that are often too much to carry?

It is said that in the face of our storms, it is then that we most need God. And this is true. He is the one who will be there to comfort us and reassure us, just as any loving father would do. But, unlike God, our parents don’t like to see us suffer harm or hardship. They try to do everything possible to ease the journey for us. But God…yeah, He puts stumbling blocks in our path, allows us to carry much too much stress and anxiety, He allows our burdens to become so heavy that we almost are ready to buckle under the pressure of it all.

THERE IS HOPE!!!! God does these things, or allows these things because He is testing us and our faith. Will you run FROM God or TO God when it all becomes overwhelming? Do you feel He has forgotten you? Does He feel a million miles away, if at all present? I’ve “been there, done that”. I give up. I run from Him. He’s not hearing me. Life is just getting worse rather than better. Don’t feel bad if you do as I have done (and I’ve done it many, many times in my life). This is God’s way of building us up in our faith and reliance on Him. Going back to God, or relying on God is sort of like an addiction and it’s recovery. God is sitting there, waiting for you…He’s waiting till you hit rock bottom. But that’s a good thing, because once you go down as far as you ever were, the only other way out is UP!

God is sitting there, thrumming His fingers and shaking His head “Oh child of Mine…” He’s just waiting for the right moment, the right time in your life when you will accept the hand He is holding out for you. You are the prodigal child, the one who must run away and “sow your oats” to realize how much you miss being “home”. God is patient. God is kind. He will welcome you back with open arms.

However, as any good parent knows, no reunion goes without a scolding. God will reprimand you, so be ready for it. Be ready to be humbled and brought to your knees. “Oh child, why do you continually run from Me? Am I not enough?” Yikes. Harsh. Instead of feeling judged or feeling like a loser, or you let the Almighty down, really think about the question. Why DO you run from Him? Once you have that answer, you are ready to come back to Him and start again. Beg forgiveness. Show humility. Admit your wrongdoings. Learn from your mistakes. Remember, when we have nowhere else to go, up is always the best choice!