Embracing Mary, Christ's Gift from the Cross

      “Let us ask the Lord to grant us one very special grace: To love Our Lady, especially through all the work we do for Jesus, with Jesus, and to Jesus. We must ask Him to deepen our love for Mary, making it more personal and intimate. We want to: Love her as He loved her. Be a cause of joy to her as He was. Keep close to her as He did. Share everything with her, even the cross, as He did when she stood near the cross on Calvary. We must love her unconditionally, trust her fully, abandon ourselves to her totally and without reserve. Nothing is impossible to those who call Mary their mother. During the day, let us often raise our hearts to her to ask her how we can love God as she loved Him, that we, too, can love Him with her heart."                                                                                                                           Saint Teresa of Calcutta

     As I read this request of Mother Teresa’s, a smile came to my face. 

Everything Matters

     A dear friend had asked for my help in choosing a comforter set for her master bedroom. I loved to decorate and considered it one of my gifts from God. I quickly said “yes,” and we were off to see what we could find.

     As we sat in the store’s parking lot, I suggested we pray that God would lead us to the set He had waiting for us. As we proceeded into the store, I grabbed a shopping cart. My friend was surprised at my audacity in believing that our cart would be filled. I remember telling her, “you always know your item is from God, when it’s both beautiful and a good price!” We both laughed and walked over to the comforters.