Sanctification by
Association
Nanny Nudges
Another very
powerful nudge has come from being Godparents and nanny to the girls. The other day, I came down from putting one
of the twins to bed, and saw Vivi crossing herself and finishing up with “and
the Holy Spirit” before continuing to eat her fruit snacks. That warmed me, made me smile, and reminded
me that children are such sponges. On a
yet another day when things were so hectic at lunchtime with three small
children that I didn't remember to say grace with them, Vivi stopped
mid-afternoon snack to bless herself without being prompted. That afternoon when all three of them were
napping, I prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, inspired to be a person lifted up in love and grounded in prayer, especially when responsible for nurturing little bodies, minds, and
souls.
Inspiration &
Accountability
I know I can’t
and shouldn’t rely on others to inspire or motivate me to maintain a solid
prayer life. I can be open to having
spiritual mentors and friends help keep me on track if I am willing to open
myself up to their suggestions and correction.
It does help immensely to have loved ones who genuinely want God to be
first in their lives, because that desire and approach to life does where off
and affect others. Ultimately, if I look
to someone other than Christ, then I will not always be fed, nor will I be
filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that I can serve others with love
and compassion.
Taking It to the Top
When I ask and am
open to the answers, the Lord can be pretty specific with me about what I need
to do. I must admit that I wish I
considered this more of a blessing and a lifeline than a scary reality
check. Sometimes the message is short
and insistent: TRUST. Other times it’s a list of different aspects of my life
that I need to put in God’s hands and leave them there (all of them), then a
reminder to check back in regularly to listen for further instructions.
Making Prayer a
Priority
It was sometime
between 3rd and 5th grades that I began praying an Our
Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be every night before falling asleep. I would get up early, usually before my mom
and sisters woke up, to pray in high school.
I would often pray the Rosary to reflect on the highlights of Christ’s
life. I also read some spiritual books
and found some other prayers that really spoke to me at that time in my life. I would pray quite a bit throughout the day
as I walked from one class to another. I
had lots going on in my family at that time, so it was usually pretty heavy on
my heart to pray and ask for God’s help and strength.
Prayerful Vocation
Discernment
I struggled and
prayed quite a bit about what God intended for my relationship with Kevin long-term
as our big age difference, my family’s concerns, and a myriad of other issues
kept me clinging to the Lord as I discerned whether marriage or the consecrated
religious life would be my main vocation.
When I was dating Kevin and
praying, pleading, begging for his conversion or rather reversion to the Catholic
faith in which he was raised, I prayed frequently and fervently. I knew that was the best way to be open to
how God might work in and through me to show Kevin His love.
Suffering Leads to
Seeking God’s Will
Watching those I
love suffering brings me to my knees.
When I see others in pain—be it physically, emotionally, or spiritually—I’m
much more willing to let God use me however He wants to alleviate their heavy
burden. I no longer place limits on what
I will do or go through so that the person I love will be comforted, receive
healing, and be drawn closer to the Lord.
Though I often do it with fear and trepidation, I rededicate my life: mind,
body, and spirit to the Lord. I ask Him to
“plant His will in my heart and make it my deepest desire and most fervent
longing” something the Holy Spirit inspired me to write in one of my prayer
journals years ago.
Here are some other posts, articles, and resources you might find
helpful for ongoing conversion and sanctification:
