I just want to give a shout out to my mom, Sharon. With all the chaos going on with the coronavirus, she has been acting like a true mother as our Mother Mary is a true mother. This past Sunday, my mom gathered the family together to discuss a plan for our family during this worldwide crisis. It obviously included that my sisters and I will be taking our classes online, like most students. But my mom is taking things a step further: to make sure we don't become couch potatoes. That means family puzzles, a family rosary, and family "writing time" since all of her daughters are writers. But my mom isn't just thinking of those within her immediate family. She has been crazy busy calling our neighbors, grandparents, and the elderly we know to ensure that they have their necessary supplies such as food and toilet paper. She has been cooking her Chicken Quinoa Chile and sending containers of it to friends and neighbors. Since we can't visit the elderly and sick with the contagious virus, she also encourages us daughters to write letters to them instead. This makes me think about everyone's mother, Mary. I think of what Mary of Nazareth would do if the coronavirus came to Nazareth (I know it takes some imagination). I imagine Mary would be checking up on the neighbors and ensuring her son Jesus and husband Joseph remain a strong, prayer-united family. Of course, we must all be careful and cautious when assisting others, so as not to spread the virus. But I believe my mom's phone calls, letter writing, prayers, and shopping supplies for others is a fantastic way to do what the Blessed Virgin Mary would do in her little home in Nazareth.
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Happy Lent! We are dust and to dust we shall return! If only my ego realized that I am dust and that God is the wonder-maker. God, in His goodness, has given me some opportunities to practice humility. It is so hard and very challenging. For example, I'm taking Elementary Hebrew at Wayne State University. There are five people in my class, and frankly, I am the worst at Hebrew. At least two of my classmates are close to fluent in Hebrew and the others have been introduced to Hebrew with their Jewish background. During class, I struggle like crazy! And I'm embarrassed that I struggle. I feel humiliated that my classmates are speaking Hebrew like pros, and that when it is my turn, I can't form a sentence. Now, it makes sense that I am "behind" in learning the language, and I could give a whole list of other excuses as to why that class is so hard. But, what I am focusing on, is humility. God is giving me the opportunity to accept my situation with a smile. Every Hebrew class, when I mess up or am incorrect, or feel embarrassed, I give it to my Creator. It is He who gives and He who takes away. Praise God that he has given me such a challenge. If Hebrew was not a humiliating challenge, my ego would be crazy high. So, during this winter semester, I get to practice the virtue of humility. Not beating myself up that I'm not fluent in Hebrew. Not jealously wishing I was at the same level as my peers. But accepting where I am at. Another example is for work this summer. I am working for my dad's business, Mosquito Joe. To be a technician, I need to pass two exams. I took both exams last week and I failed. I get to retake them next week, but I just felt so humiliated and frustrated that I did not succeed. I thought I was prepared and studied well. All of these other people pass their exams on the first try. Why couldn't I? This is another opportunity for me to embrace humility. Not to go into despair or beat myself up, but to accept that I failed and remind myself I am not God. I am fully human and humans aren't great at every single thing. Are you learning something new at work? Do those around you seem to be "smarter" or "better" than you at a task? Are you going through a challenge? Are you embarrassed about something you did or said? Use it as an opportunity to go from humiliation, despair, and discouragement to be humble, happy during trials, and to be totally dependent on God. Shalom! |
AuthorJacqueline St. Clare: I spent six months in a cloistered convent, and now I'm a college student! Archives
April 2021
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