Little

Remembering who I am and who my Eternal Father is, I stand a little straighter in my resolve today, and I straighten my crown.

Stations of the Cross (Ben Denison)

I was having a disagreement with one of my children the other day.  Now, this particular child really tried my patience.  We go round and round in circles about the issue and I just cannot give in and accept that I need to change to that way of thinking because that child is simply wrong.  Their experience of the world is insufficient – in my opinion – to make the sort of decision that they are trying to make and as a result they continue to dig their heels in but actually they have no real idea about the issue and need to trust me on this one for now.

And as I have been rolling around in circles over this issue with this child, I have been thinking about how fragile my patience is compared with the infinite patience of God.  You see, God forgives our sins.  He does not do this once.  He does not do this twice.  He literally forgives ANY SIN at ANY TIME despite ANY NUMBER of offences.  All He asks of me is that I come to Him and ask for His forgiveness.  He even makes it easy for me to do this.  During the Sacrament of Reconciliation, very often the priest is hidden behind a panel and will not even see my face.  I am able to hide in shame at what I have done.  All I do is recount the offences and – with a contrite heart – resolve not to commit those offences again.  God does not even expect me to actually be able to hold up my side of the bargain and remain fixed in my resolve.  He knows how weak I am and He is tireless in His forgiveness of me…

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:12-14).

Christ came to heal the sinner, which is just another way of saying that He came to heal me…

And it is a miracle to me to think that there is something to love in this miserable and sinful soul of mine.  For just as I go round and round in circles with my son – trying to convince him to listen to what I have to say – my God, who is the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE – does the same thing with me, His little daughter (the least of His children).

And remembering who I am and who my Eternal Father is, I stand a little straighter in my resolve today, and I straighten my crown.  For my Beloved has done great things for me and He continues to do them day after day after day…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.