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December 3rd, 2003
I got this message in my e-mail today and I thought a great number of my Friends could benefit from reading it.
A PIECE OF CAKE
Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this," or "Why did God have to do this to me."
Here is a wonderful explanation! A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."
"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.
"Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about a couple raw eggs?"
"Gross, Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"
"Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
As well, Father Thomas gave us an exerpt from his Homily from the first Sunday of Advent, 2003:
"Allow me to suggest an Advent program for you: mend a quarrel. Build peace. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a kind answer even though you would like to respond harshly. Encourage a young person to believe in him/herself. Ask a young person who attended World Youth Day 2002 to tell you what really happened to them in Toronto. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Find the time. Make time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Listen more. Apologize if you were wrong. Be kind even if you weren’t wrong! Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine the demands you make on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate. Be kind, be gentle. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express gratitude. Go to Church. Stay in Church a little while longer than usual. Subscribe to Salt + Light, Catholic Television for the soul. Give the gift of "Salt+Light" to someone this Christmas. Welcome a stranger into your home this Christmas. Gladden the heart of a child. Volunteer in your parish. Attend the wonderful Advent programs that your parish offers. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love. Speak it once again. Speak it even more loudly. Speak it quietly. Rejoice, for the Lord is near! And He will be mightily present in our midst if we but open the doors of our hearts and minds and homes to such a great Guest as the Child of Bethlehem."
I really don't have much to say these days, aside from "AIBO (might be Monday now)" or "I've got the next two days off". I really hope for all the best for everyone in this season and beyond.
I hope everyone enjoys their holidays and gifts - but most importantly, enjoy each other. Enjoy that you have friends who care for you and can depend on. Enjoy that you can rest safely knowing those friends are looking out for you, as well.
A PIECE OF CAKE
Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this," or "Why did God have to do this to me."
Here is a wonderful explanation! A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."
"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.
"Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about a couple raw eggs?"
"Gross, Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"
"Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
As well, Father Thomas gave us an exerpt from his Homily from the first Sunday of Advent, 2003:
"Allow me to suggest an Advent program for you: mend a quarrel. Build peace. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a kind answer even though you would like to respond harshly. Encourage a young person to believe in him/herself. Ask a young person who attended World Youth Day 2002 to tell you what really happened to them in Toronto. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Find the time. Make time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Listen more. Apologize if you were wrong. Be kind even if you weren’t wrong! Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine the demands you make on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate. Be kind, be gentle. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express gratitude. Go to Church. Stay in Church a little while longer than usual. Subscribe to Salt + Light, Catholic Television for the soul. Give the gift of "Salt+Light" to someone this Christmas. Welcome a stranger into your home this Christmas. Gladden the heart of a child. Volunteer in your parish. Attend the wonderful Advent programs that your parish offers. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love. Speak it once again. Speak it even more loudly. Speak it quietly. Rejoice, for the Lord is near! And He will be mightily present in our midst if we but open the doors of our hearts and minds and homes to such a great Guest as the Child of Bethlehem."
I really don't have much to say these days, aside from "AIBO (might be Monday now)" or "I've got the next two days off". I really hope for all the best for everyone in this season and beyond.
I hope everyone enjoys their holidays and gifts - but most importantly, enjoy each other. Enjoy that you have friends who care for you and can depend on. Enjoy that you can rest safely knowing those friends are looking out for you, as well.
