As I get older, time goes by faster. I was warned of this as a child, and
somehow did not give the idea total credibility then. Now I do!
For an example, Advent is now half gone with this coming Sunday being the
third Sunday of Advent. Where did the first two weeks go? Frankly, I don’t want to think too much about it, lest I be forced to face myself as I am -- a human being who has the best of intentions, but fails to live up to them all too often.
Jesus once said: “After you have done all of the things you should do,
consider yourselves unprofitable servants.” As a young person I never quite understood that. It seemed to me that if I should complete all my duties, I should or could be pretty proud of myself. However, now that I am
older, I understand what Jesus meant. And I understand that I should be pretty grateful that God has
enabled me to even get the morning dishes washed. “Of myself I can do nothing, but with Him I can do all
things.” This was St. Francis Cabrini’s motto, which was always before her consciousness.
With two weeks gone in this Advent Season, I should be two weeks better
prepared for Christmas. After all, the four weeks prior to Christmas should be the time we
spiritually prepare for Our Lord’s Birthday. Oh, believe you me! I’m not caught up in the bustleness of
Christmas shopping. No, sirreee!!! I haven’t even bought one present for anyone yet. Don’t know that
I will! Don’t know that I can. I take care of my elderly mother and find it very difficult to get away
without having someone stay with her.
I’m sure my family understands this and hopefully they will accept as a
“Christmas present” to them that I am taking care of OUR mother.
Whatever!!! As I have often written: “There is less shame in falling than
in failing to rise.” Most of all, you and I should be praying more. That’s the best kind of
preparation for the birthday of Jesus. That is something we all can do better and more often. We
can pray even on the run, so to speak. How about praying while you’re on your way to buy a Furby?
That’s you, of course, not me. I’m not going to buy one.
We can pray while cleaning house, doing dishes, driving to work. Even the
thought of offering a prayer, came from God, you know. We are not capable of doing even that, with
ourselves as a source of that good.
We need to pray for ourselves, our families, our President. (Believe me, the
country will not fall apart if he is impeached. And the economy???? Our economy does not depend on
ONE person.)
Let’s give Baby Jesus a present for Christmas. Let’s give Him our hearts, poor as they are, weak
as they are. He’ll love that! There’s something about our inadequacies that attracts Him to us.
Let’s keep trying! God bless you!