St Patrick's day arrived with few plans this year. I did sit a while and read his autobiography this morning during my quiet time and have been scribbling down bits of it into my notebook. What especially strikes me this time around is his deep regret over wasted time, idle words, and lost opportunity. With the midcentury mark looming I find myself sharing those regrets. It is an embarassment of riches, these many years I've been given, and yet have I made the most of them? Has my speech been edifying? My hours fruitful? My way steady and focused? And if not, how can those regrets be channeled into new resolve?
He also tells us to be amazed by what God can do with our imperfect efforts:
"So be amazed, all you people great and small who fear God! You well-educated people in authority, listen and examine this carefully. Who was it who called one as foolish as I am from the middle of those who are seen to be wise and experienced in law and powerful in speech and in everything? If I am most looked down upon, yet he inspired me, before others, so that I would faithfully serve the nations with awe and reverence and without blame: the nations to whom the love of Christ brought me. His gift was that I would spend my life, if I were worthy of it, to serving them in truth and with humility to the end."
Somehow this inspires me as a mother and homemaker, without impressive degrees or titles, living a life of relative obscurity. We are chosen from among wiser, more organized, more efficient candidates, to faithfully serve these souls 'to whom the love of Christ has brought' us. Moreover, this service is a gift to us, as much as it is to them. How differently we look at a blessing than a burden.
With him "I pray God that he gives me the gives me perseverance, and that he will deign that I should be a faithful witness for his sake right up to the time of my passing."
A round up of ideas for you from previous years:
random good stuff
trinity shamrocks
Drawing for kids here and here and here
Crafts here and here
Reading and Eating
Starry Sky Journal 