I am never going to be a Saint, that I am for sure. The best that I will be able to say when I get to those pearly gates is "I tried, Lord".
God's mission for me is prayer. I struggle with this mission. Especially on days I'd rather stay in bed than go to Mass or pray the hours or go to Eucharistic Adoration. But when I think about whether staying in bed is better than spending time with God my answer is a definitive No. So I pull myself out of bed and start my journey on that long road up hill praying that each day will be a testament that "I tried, Lord."
Last week was tougher than most. School has ended so my usual schedule of getting up, going to daily mass, come back home, tell my son to get out of bed for the first time, take the dog out, mention it's time to get up again, pray the morning hours, yell at my son to get out of bed so he's not late for school, wait for him to get a shower and get dressed, drop him off at school. Then at night there was a normal routine that is ruined because it's just too darn hot to go to bed at my normal time. Let's just say that getting out of bed at 6 am after going to bed at midnight or later just doesn't make me a pleasant person and sleeping in and missing morning hours makes me just as cheerful. So I have broke down and turned on my air conditioning so that I can get back to a somewhat normal routine. How religious kept their schedule prior to A/C I think is miraculous.
But I thank the Lord each morning for the beautiful day and try to spend as much of it outside admiring his wonderful creation. I find it so much easier to meditate on Our Lord when I can feel his presents in the blowing of the wind, the orchestra of bird songs, and swaying of the trees. His presence is so strong it's impossible not to marvel at how complex a system he created. I get a tiny glimpse at what it must feel like to be in heaven. And this long road up hill that I'm on just seems a little bit easier.
Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord!
All praise is yours, all glory, all honor
And all blessing.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy
To pronounce your name.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made,
And first my lord Brother Sun,
Who brings the day; and light you give to us through him.
How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars;
In the heavens you have made them, bright
And precious and fair.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all the weather's moods,
By which you cherish all that you have made.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water,
so useful, lowly, precious, and pure.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
Through whom you brighten up the night.
How beautiful he is, how joyful! Full of power and strength.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth,
Who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces
Various fruits and colored flowers and herbs.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon
For love of you; through those who endure
Sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
By you, Most High, they will be crowned.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death,
From whose embrace no mortal can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those She finds doing your will!
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks,
And serve him with great humility.
~ St. Francis of Assisi
