“Once a person learns to read the signs of love and thus to believe it, love leads him into the open field wherein he himself can love. If the prodigal son had not believed that the father’s love was already waiting for him, he would not have been able to make the journey home – even if his father’s love welcomes him in a way he never would have dreamed of. The decisive thing is that the sinner has heard of a love that could be, and really is, there for him; he is not the one who has to bring himself into line with God; God has always already seen in him, the loveless sinner, a beloved child and has looked upon him and conferred dignity upon him in the light of this love.” Hans Urs Von Balthasar
“Remember that not a single word is lost during prayer, if you say it from your heart; God hears each word, and weighs it in a balance. Sometimes it seems to us that our words only strike the air in vain, and sound as the voice of one crying in the wilderness. No, no; it is not so!…The Lord responds to every desire of the heart, expressed in words or unexpressed.”–Saint John of Kronstadt
“Lay all your cares about the future trustingly in God’s hands, and let yourself be guided by the Lord just like a little child.” –Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross When God takes off the training wheels, never doubt that he knows we are ready and he runs behinds us just to make sure!
“Humility is not self-contempt but the truth about ourselves coupled with a reverence for others; it is self-surrender to the highest goal.” Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
The Lord our King will hold the door of His heart open for anyone who wants to enter for an audience at any time. –Saint Padre Pio Is Jesus welcome in your heart?
“A woman is capable of more sacrifices than a man. Man is more apt to be a hero, through some great passionate outburst of heroism. But a woman’s love makes a thousand small sacrifices, sprinkling them through the days and the months; their very repetition gives them the character of the commonplace. Not only her soul, but her body, has some share in the Calvary of Redemption; furthermore, she comes closer to death than man, whenever she brings forth a child.” Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.” Robert Frost
(I came up with this little Rhyme…)Dorothy was so enjoying “Muchkin land” that she was tempted to stay. Then she remembered this was merely a stop on the way. Back to the path of God’s will, cost what it may!
“The sun looks down on nothing half so good as a household laughing together over a meal.” – C. S. Lewis
We need to get back the tradition of family meals…laughter, heart felt sharing, bonding…and this give the parents an opportunity to take the pulse of each child and their spouse!