Spring Inspiration

How are you?  How did you fare getting through the blustery winter? It was a long and cold season for so many of us.  Thankfully, Spring finally arrived. The empty tree “bones” that now surround us will soon be greeted by tiny budding flowers and leaves covered in varying shades of green. This is the time of year when paying attention becomes especially important. Everything around us is transforming in some way. With so many things competing for our time, it is hard to find moments of pause to think about how today is different from yesterday.  How today may be different than tomorrow.  Pondering this can help build our appreciation for where we are right now. The grace given to us by God at this very moment. Today we hopefully have health, are safe, know where our children are, have milk and bread in the refrigerator, have a home and a family to love and love us back.

Yet, clicking on the news reminds us how quickly this can change. The Blessed Mother of our Lord warned us at Fatima about Russia. Family members of Flight 370 are deeply anguished over the inexplicable disappearance of their loved ones. Americans have lost trust in the character of those elected to lead our country and protect us. I could go on, but will stop there.

As all of this transpires around us, it is more important than ever that we pay attention.  To be alert and very much aware of the changes taking place in our world and to pray harder. And as we are reminded by the tragic events taking place in the lives of others, to take the time to appreciate the gift of every single day, of every person in our life that we greet in the morning and then get to kiss again goodnight. Not everyone thinks this way.  Today on the subway I rode next to a small girl who tried to get her mother’s attention for several stops.  Her mother was reading a book and paid no attention to her daughter’s tugs.  She never looked up to answer her question. Her nose remained buried in her book and never even glanced in her direction.  It was hard to watch this little girl have a “pretend” conversation by herself.

Here is a prayer that I often lift up to God asking for his grace and protection:

Just for Today

Oh, God, give me grace for this day
Not for a lifetime, nor for next week, nor for tomorrow, just for this day.
Direct my thoughts and bless them, 
Direct my work and bless it.
Direct the things I say and give them blessing, too.
Direct and bless everything that I think and speak and do.

So that for this one day, just this one day, I have the gift of grace that comes from your presence…

Amen

Prayer by:  Majorie Holmes