Ever Lasting Day…from the writings of St. Therese of Lisieux

My Life is but an instant, a mere passing hour,
My Life escapes and flies away, this single day, no other

You know O Lord:  a future bleak?
Beg you for tomorrow, I shall not, cannot!…
But keep my heart pure,
put me in your shade
Just for this day, no other.

Soon I shall fly to sing your praise,
And I leave this day, no
other. Then I shall play the angels lyre
And no longer say that on my soul it sets,
This day no other,
But on my soul it shines:
Your everlasting day, all other!

This beautiful poem was written by St. Therese of Lisieux.  Her life and writings greatly inspire me.  Even as a small child, she had the gift of knowing the greatness of God’s love and through simple every day gestures, she showed her love for Him. In many of her writings, she tells us not to focus so much on our weaknesses.  Instead, we must accept God’s love for who we are – flaws and all.  He is not wanting us to be super human beings – only our love.  I am sharing this with you friends to pass along her wonderful message of “living for the day”.  It isn’t easy in today’s world to live our lives one day at a time.  There is so much uncertainty, so much on our mind, and very good reason to think about all things we must plan now to prepare for tomorrow.

How do we not let all of this thinking consume us?  We can easily lose our sense of peace if we are not careful.

In her prayer, St. Therese first acknowledges the brevity of life. She admits that the future can look worrisome.  Yet though she knows that she can ask the Lord for the assurance and promise of another day, she vehemently chooses not to.  Instead she asks for the purity of heart and for the protection of his shade.  She asks this of God – just for the day – no other day – not tomorrow or always – just for that moment of time.  That day alone.  I am not sure at what point in her life she wrote this poem.  She may have written it during her tremendous illness.  This beautiful Saint suffered greatly and was given no aid to ease her physical pain. It may very well be that she knew she was approaching her last day on the earth.  She completes her prayer by describing the magnitude of the day in which she was living.  It is a day that is – everlasting – because it was given by God.  She gives him ownership and says “your everlasting day.” A day filled with so much wonder that it shines on her soul.  St. Therese gives us a wonderful way to think.  To treat each day as no other – to let every day be worth — all other.  How wonderful are her words….I continue my journey in learning all I can about my patron Saint, my beautiful St. Therese – the Little Flower.

St. Therese of Lisieux – the Little Flower and my patron Saint