During Lent Catholics are encouraged to go to Confession and many Dioceses even offer a 'Day of Reconciliation/Penance." There are really only two things that keep us away from this beautiful Sacrament: the sins of presumption and despair.

Theses sins are opposite sides of the same coin with their roots in pride.

In the first, presumption, we convince ourselves that since God is merciful He will look past our sins. The reasoning is expressed as, "I don't think God will really send me to hell for _____." Or we say, "_____is not that important, God loves me, He won't care." In this we way presume upon God's mercy without any real change or contrition on our part. We are trying to make God in our image (or idea of what we think He should be) rather than who He is.

The second, despair, is the wrong thinking that we are so sinful that God couldn't possibly forgive us for what we have done. To me, this is the sadder of the two ideas. God is, well... God!! He already knows what we have done and He is waiting with open arms to welcome us back.

Please, Dear Reader, pray about going to Confession. Ask the Lord to send the Holy Spirit to show reveal yours sins to you and to grant you the grace to overcome any fear you may be experiencing. Please pray the same for me as well. God bless you.

A few weeks ago I talked about love languages, well today I was blessed to tap into one of mine. This week not only marked Valentine's Day, but the tenth anniversary of my oldest daughter's brain surgery and my middle daughter's 18th birthday.

I wanted to touch my daughters' heart in a special way, to thank them for touching mine. So I gave them an overnight dedicated exclusively to them.

We went to a hotel and gave each other facials, manicures, and hair styles. It was a wonderful way to avoid all the distractions of daily life and put all the focus on them. It was a gift for all of us and I will cherish it forever! God bless.

As I shared in yesterday's blog, I have been struggling lately with where I am both emotionally, spiritually and as a writer. Last night, our priest reminded us that we are only truly happy when we are following God's will and plan for us. I know this, but I have not pondered it for awhile. That changed today.

I have decided to prepare for Lent. I have begun a novena that will end as Ash Wednesday begins. I have acknowledged to myself that I need more time in Adoration and more quiet time this Lent. I have also decided to return to my first loves of writing...journaling and poetry.

So, as I struggle to find my new normal (can you tell I'm menopausal) I wrote my first poem in a long time. Ready or not...

Fertility ending;

Changes

Rendering...my heart open and exposed.

Acutely feeling;

Changes

Stealing...my peace leaving me raw.

Eucharist feeding;

Changes

Needing...His heart, sacred, it beckons.

Communion longing;

Changes

Belonging...to His perfect plan.

Faith deepens;

Changes

Leaping...discovering destinations He sends.

Inward carving;

Changes

Scarring...metamorphis of my heart.

When did it happen? When did writing become more about writing for me and less about what I love?

I have been incredibly busy lately: writing several monthly columns, substitute teaching at a small private school, giving presentations, and trying to keep up with the needs of my large family. I think I forgot to stop and remember what I love.

I hope to spend time this Lent reevaluating what really matters to me and finding the love in my craft again. I'm looking forward to the discipline the Lenten season provides to spend more time in prayer and discernment! What are your Lenten goals? God bless.

When did it happen? When did writing become more about writing for me and less about what I love?

I have been incredibly busy lately: writing several monthly columns, substitute teaching at a small private school, giving presentations, and trying to keep up with the needs of my large family. I think I forgot to stop and remember what I love.

I hope to spend time this Lent reevaluating what really matters to me and finding the love in my craft again. I'm looking forward to the discipline the Lenten season provides to spend more time in prayer and discernment! What are your Lenten goals? God bless.

When did it happen? When did writing become more about writing for me and less about what I love?

I have been incredibly busy lately: writing several monthly columns, substitute teaching at a small private school, giving presentations, and trying to keep up with the needs of my large family. I think I forgot to stop and remember what I love.

I hope to spend time this Lent reevaluating what really matters to me and finding the love in my craft again. I'm looking forward to the discipline the Lenten season provides to spend more time in prayer and discernment! What are your Lenten goals? God bless.

I have a confession to make... I have been guilty of receiving the Eucharist unworthily. I was a much younger woman, but I was not living my life in a state of grace.

I could tell you that my confessor knew of my error (failed to correct me) and it would be true, however, I should have taken it upon myself to learn the Church's teachings in this area of my life. To this day I regret my lack of knowledge and my mistake.

Why am I sharing this? God, in His mercy, eventually opened my eyes and lifted my spiritual blindness! I should have invited His condemnation on myself, and yet He showed me Mercy.

So often we judge another's errors rather than realize that God's mercy can reach beyond our mistakes. We place limitations on what God will forgive or how He will instruct, while He is watching our struggles and is reading our hearts beyond our sinfulness. He, unlike us, is all good and knows everything! He has used my own errors to help me guide others so as to not repeat my mistakes. He brought beauty and light into the darkness that lived in me. Nothing is beyond Him!! Don't forget that... Nothing! His mercy is beyond our understanding and comprehension. He redeems!   God bless.

I love the word melancholy. It somehow describes my feelings so well. I am not depressed, nor am I hopeless. I would not describe my feelings as stress or being overwhelmed. I am... Melancholy. That sad feeling that hits you deep in your heart and in your soul. Perhaps if we brought back this description we would not fall victim to modern ideas of depression as quickly.

A lot has happened this week and I believe this feeling is my heart's way of processing all the events I am experiencing.

So how do I cope?

*Naming the feeling helps.

*Pushing myself to do something positive also moves me forward.

*Doing something for someone else gets the focus off of myself.

*Prayers of course, especially meditating on Scripture which reminds me of God's presence in my sadness.

*I covet your prayers also.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18