This came from one of my Catholic Email groups. I hope others will like it as much as I did.
Easy to get a place in someone’s address book.
Difficult to get a place in someone’s heart.
Easy to judge the mistakes of others
Difficult to recognize our own mistakes
Easy to talk without thinking
Difficult to refrain the tongue
Easy to hurt someone who loves us.
Difficult to heal the wound ..
Easy to forgive others
Difficult to ask for forgiveness
Easy to set rules.
Difficult to follow them…
Easy to dream every night.
Difficult to fight for a dream…
Easy to show victory.
Difficult to assume defeat with dignity…
Easy to admire a full moon.
Difficult to see the other side…
Easy to stumble with a stone.
Difficult to get up…
Easy to enjoy life every day.
Difficult to give its real value…
Easy to promise something to someone.
Difficult to fulfill that promise…
Easy to say we love.
Difficult to show it every day…
Easy to criticize others.
Difficult to improve oneself…
Easy to make mistakes.
Difficult to learn from them…
Easy to weep for a lost love.
Difficult to take care of it so not to lose it.
Easy to think about improving.
Difficult to stop thinking it and put it into action…
Easy to think bad of others
Difficult to give them the benefit of the doubt…
Easy to receive
Difficult to give
Easy to read this
Difficult to follow
Easy to keep the friendship with words
Difficult to keep it with meanings.
Difficult to get a place in someone’s heart.
Easy to judge the mistakes of others
Difficult to recognize our own mistakes
Easy to talk without thinking
Difficult to refrain the tongue
Easy to hurt someone who loves us.
Difficult to heal the wound ..
Easy to forgive others
Difficult to ask for forgiveness
Easy to set rules.
Difficult to follow them…
Easy to dream every night.
Difficult to fight for a dream…
Easy to show victory.
Difficult to assume defeat with dignity…
Easy to admire a full moon.
Difficult to see the other side…
Easy to stumble with a stone.
Difficult to get up…
Easy to enjoy life every day.
Difficult to give its real value…
Easy to promise something to someone.
Difficult to fulfill that promise…
Easy to say we love.
Difficult to show it every day…
Easy to criticize others.
Difficult to improve oneself…
Easy to make mistakes.
Difficult to learn from them…
Easy to weep for a lost love.
Difficult to take care of it so not to lose it.
Easy to think about improving.
Difficult to stop thinking it and put it into action…
Easy to think bad of others
Difficult to give them the benefit of the doubt…
Easy to receive
Difficult to give
Easy to read this
Difficult to follow
Easy to keep the friendship with words
Difficult to keep it with meanings.
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God’s Word: A Shield For Me
“I’m not supposed to give these away,” the young man said, handing me a display Bible, “but I sense you should have this.” I shrugged and absently tucked it away. We had a Bible at home. I’d only stopped by the Gideons table because nothing else at the Iowa State Fair was set up.
A few days later I was walking to town when a car pulled up beside me. “Get in,” the driver snarled, pointing a gun at me. I did as he said. Soon he pulled over, grabbed me and tried to force me down on the seat. I struggled with all my strength. Finally he ordered me out of the car.
Before both my feet were on the ground, I heard a shot and felt a sharp pain in my side. I collapsed, and the man came around the car. He picked up my purse, took out my wallet then threw the purse on my head and shot it. I felt a dreadful impact.
Still conscious, I lay silent, hoping he would think I was dead. I heard the car drive away, and I stumbled to a nearby farmhouse. A woman called for help, and the police were closing in on the drug-crazed driver based on the description I’d given them.
At the hospital, just before I went into surgery to remove the bullet in my side, my sister came to see me. “Do you know what saved your life, Mavis?” she asked.
She handed me the Bible that had been in my purse. A bullet was lodged inside, its tip stopping exactly at Psalm 37:14-15: “The wicked draw the sword, and bend the bow . . . to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.”
This is what it means to know the voice of God. The young man wasn’t supposed to give away the Bibles, but he “sensed” that God wanted him to give the Bible away to this lady. He probably thought that she would open the Bible and read something that would turn her life around, or bring her closer to the reality of God.
But the sword came first, and then certainly a peace that only comes from God-the reality of His protection made manifest by those who “sense” His will.
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THE GIFT OF LISTENING
But you must REALLY listen.
No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.
THE GIFT OF AFFECTION
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.
THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER
Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you”.
THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE
It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.
THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT
A simple and sincere, “You look great in red”, “You did a super job” or “That was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day.
THE GIFT OF A FAVOR
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.
THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.
THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION
The easiest way to feel good is to make other feel good.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO LENTEN FASTING
As we are in the season of Lent . Please spare a moment to read through as it is something which will help you. It will bring you to a closer walk with JESUS and you will experience great peace.
Lenten fasts have a tendency to be oriented toward things like giving up food or television.
But there are many other creative ways we can welcome Jesus’ healing touch this Lent. Below are some suggestions you may want to consider.
Fast from: Anger and Hatred:
Give your family and everyone you come across, an extra dose of love each day.
Judging Others:
Before making any judgments, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.
Discouragement:
Hold on to Jesus’ promise that He has a perfect plan for your life.
Complaining:
When you find yourself about to complain, close your eyes and recall some of the little moments of joy Jesus has given you.
Resentment or Bitterness:
Work on forgiving those who may have hurt you.
Spending Too Much Money:
Try to reduce your spending by ten per cent and give those savings to the poor.
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On this last one…Start on Ash Wednesday your Lenten fast. Make it something you will try to do the rest of your life. Don’t give up cookies, and then 40 days later you pig out and make up for all those you didn’t eat during Lent. If you usually eat 10 cookies, make it 5, and never eat 10 again.
This thought came from one of my Catholic email groups.
Kindness is a quality that belongs to the very nature of God (Mt 11:29). If you love God, it follows that you must also love all that God loves; and God loves the neighbours with whom you live. That being the case, you will go your way in life looking for occasions to help each and every one; to give them cosolation, and to do all in your power to make them happy (Lk 6:33).
Kindness should be uppermost, especially in dealings with the poor because they are treated harshly by many. It also should be apparent in dealings with the sick and infirm, because these are already suffering under infliction. But above all, kindness should be our guide when we have dealings with those who are our enemies (Ro 12:21). [Yes, including the infidels.] Hatred must be conquered by love; persecution must be conquered by meekness.
Let us pray:
Lord, we pray we may be all you have called us to be. May we be alert to the enemy’s schemes to steal our positions in the truth; to knock us off guard and buckle our knees in fear and weakness. Help us to stand true and strong in our position of faith today. May we be courageous in the face of adversity and compassionate in the midst of confusion and chaos. Apart from you we have nothing, but with you today may we be on guard, true, courageous, strong and filled to overflowing with love. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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Matthew 5:44 – “But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
Matthew 11:29 – “I am gentle and humble in spirit.” (Other translations read “meek and humble in heart”.)
Luke 6:33 – “And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners do that!”
Romans 2:4 – Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent.
Romans 12:21 – Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 – Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong. Do all your work in love.
Colossians 3:12 – You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
1 Peter 2:15 – For God wants you to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by the good things you do.
- – -
“Always forgive your enemies — Nothing annoys them so much.” – Oscar Wilde
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend” – Martin Luther King Jr.
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David,
Thank you for your comment. Your suggestion is a good one.
This came from one of my Catholic Email groups. I am posting it here.
Lent and Our Spiritual Progress
A serious Lent is like a spring cleaning in which we cleanse our souls of the clutter that has been accumulating there.
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic Online) – Without a doubt, Lent is the most demanding time of the year for the true disciple of Christ. Lent provides us an opportunity not only to intensify our spiritual practices, but this penitential season also gives us a unique opportunity to reflect deeply on the progress of our journey towards eternal life. St. Paul reminds us that our entrance into Heaven is not a guaranteed reality when he writes, “Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall” (1 Corinthians 10: 12).
Lent is a time for seriously questioning ourselves about our relationship with God. We might ask whether there are any particular sins or attachments that might prove to be obstacles to our achieving eternal salvation. A serious Lent is not only like a spring cleaning in which we cleanse our souls of the clutter that has been accumulating there, it is also a time when changes in the way we live our lives may be in order.
This Sunday’s Gospel passage underscores this theme as Jesus makes it very clear that our decisions and actions do have consequences. Our God is a God of mercy, and he forgives any repentant sinner; however, this forgiveness does not take away from the fact that deliberate rejection of the truth does have a personal cost.
Many people in our present day have experienced profound conversions. The personal testimonies of life changing experiences bear continual witness to the ever-present action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all those who are searching for happiness and peace.
However, conversion is a daily enterprise. Every day we are faced with choices and challenges that affect our relationship with the Lord. It is not easy to be faithful. But God’s grace makes discipleship not only possible, it also makes it an amazing adventure.
We must not be surprised that Christianity essentially implies a daily, personal struggle. Commitment and battle go hand in hand. We have to take very seriously the fact that our human nature is wounded by original sin. Discouragement is never an option for true disciples of Christ. Every day presents a new opportunity to begin again. God’s loving mercy is always available to us through the sacrament of Confession. It is precisely God’s loving willingness to forgive our sins that fills us with the hope of eternal life.
Constancy in the spiritual life, especially under difficult circumstances such as sickness or persecution, characterizes the existence of the true disciple of Christ.
In order to help us persevere in our friendship with the Lord, there are some very practical steps that we need to incorporate into our daily lives.
First of all, achieving personal order is essential. Serene and intimate moments of daily prayer will only be made possible by exercising personal discipline. Getting to bed early, following a schedule, eating dinner as a family, exercising regularly, and maintaining discipline in dress and personal hygiene are all important aspects of order.
Secondly, establishing a regular routine in our spiritual life is very important. Depending upon the circumstances of daily life, we can all strive to live out routines of a spiritual life. Praying the Liturgy of the Hours, assisting at daily Mass, reciting the Rosary, contemplative prayer and reading the Bible can be woven into the pattern of our daily existence. Weekly adoration and the frequent reception of the sacrament of Confession should be made an important part of our spiritual routine as well.
Thirdly, developing a sense of community is extremely important. Ideally the parish provides the most fundamental means by which we may experience a spiritual community of mutual support and encouragement. In places where this support does not exist, new lay associations afford a dynamic means of fellowship.
When all three are made to come together in the lives of Catholics, we see vibrant joy and enthusiastic apostolic outreach. This is happening in communities all over the country where people, especially young people, have discovered Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Lent is a very important time for our spiritual lives. Our Lenten journey should be difficult. The Lord will always give us the strength that we need to persevere and come closer to him.
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Father James Farfaglia is the pastor of Saint Helena of the True Cross of Jesus Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. Father has a hard-hitting blog called Illegitimi non carborundum. He has also published a book called Man to Man: a real priest speaks to real men about marriage, sexuality and family life.