Illuminated By Joy

J.M.J. *This post is part of Grim's lovely Remember, O Thou Man Lenten link up here .  (credit) "The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings." -St. Francis de Sales St. Francis de Sales is one of those saints who found me. I was struggling in life and God sent him my way through his beautiful spiritual readings and wonderful quotes. (If you've never read "Introduction to the Devout Life", you MUST!) He is a great friend of mine, even so much that I decorated my graduation cap with one of his quotes. :) Let's just say, I can always count on him to guide me ever closer to our loving Father!  In the last few weeks, the temptation to give up my Lenten resolutions has been so real...how I am ready to give up right now amidst struggles. A rough day of tea...

 J.M.J. "Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris."  These are the words we hear before every Ash Wednesday Mass. As we approach the priest who signs our foreheads with ashes, we are reminded of death. Death. Why is it pushed aside so often? Why is everyone so sad after a death? Our happiness is not of the world or of worldly things; we are here only to prepare for our earthly death so we may one day live our eternal life in Heaven. I am reminded of this by one of my favorite Bible verses: "I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). Life is not easy. It is full of sufferings to guide us to love the Lord with our whole heart, soul, and mind so that one day we may go home to Him. Often, it is the small sufferings that God sends us each day that are our greatest trials. In times of sickness and hardships, let us offer it up in union with Jesus! As St. Gemm...