New Year's Resolutions

Brothers and Sisters, tonight at midnight, 2017 will come to an end.  It's been a good year for me (and I hope for the rest of you as well) full of ups and downs, but mostly good things and many blessings.  God has been very good.

The one thing that I've been noticing in my life lately, is that God has been very good to me, but I've not always been very good to Him.  There are a lot of ways where I have fallen short, where I have hurt those closest to me, where I have hurt myself (spiritually, emotionally), and of course, where I have hurt Him.  As I've been reflecting on this, I started to think about how I wanted to handle my resolutions for the next year.  This revelation, after all, came at the perfect time, as I have a whole fresh year ahead of me to plan out what I want to fix in my life.

Of course, you don't have to wait for the new year to come.  Every day can be looked at as a fresh beginning.  Today is as good as any other day to start over with a clean slate.  So, don't just wait for January 1st to roll around (it only happens once a year!)  But, if you've set your heart on starting over with the New Year, then here are a few suggestions for resolutions to get you started.

The problem I see with resolutions is that we put too much stock in trying to be perfect.  And that's just not going to happen.  I don't say that I'm going to work out more.  I say that I'm going to work out every day after work.  And if I slip up, well, then that's the end of that.  Or, we're too vague: I'm going to work out more.  And if I didn't work out at all in 2017, then anything I do in 2018 is a step up, even if I only do it for a day or two.

I think the mistake we make, too, is that we're too focused on ourselves.  I'm going to be prettier, stronger, more popular, etc.  And we miss the perfect opportunities we have to better our relationships with God and others.  As I said, I have compiled a quick list of suggested resolutions for you to use.  Feel free to use all or none of these.  Share them with your friends (no credit is required!)  Become a better person in 2018.  Become more of the person that your Father in Heaven created you to be.

• Do something every day to make someone else, happy.
• Smile more
• Spend more time in nature
• Spend more time with God
• Make a new friend
• Be a better friend
• Appreciate where you are right now--it's where God wants you!
• Donate--your time, your money, your resources
• Learn something new every day
• Don't be so hard on yourself
• Never stop growing
• Try something new
• Adopt a pet
• Adopt a plant
• Become a mentor
• Read the Bible
• Really listen when people talk to you
• Read and watch material of quality
• Go on a retreat
• Share your faith with people
• Thank God every day for His gifts in your life

And of course, pray for me, Brothers and Sisters!  I'll also be praying for you!

God bless,

Little Sister

Our Father

Hello, everyone:

Sorry it has been a little while since I've last posted.  There has just been a lot going on.  Nothing bad, but I've been busy, and just have forgotten how to slow down and focus.  Now, before I post too much, I wanted to try a new feature on this blog.  I'd like to start each post (or end each post--haven't decided yet) with a prayer intention.  This might be for someone in my family, a celebrity, a world leader, or even one of your intentions (if you have one, please include it in the comments on any post!)  The Catholic Church is about community, so this is a great opportunity for us to pray for each other.

With that in mind, today's prayer intention is for our sister in Christ, S.  She's a non-practicing Catholic who could use our prayers in returning to the Church.  Please pray for S., and ask that God will help to draw her back to Himself.  Thank you!

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I have been thinking lately about how I pray.  When I was a child, I would address my prayers to God.  As I got older, I started to call Him Lord.  And lately, I've been calling Him Father.  This was not something that came overnight.  But, it was a beautiful acceptance of my role as a daughter of Christ.

When I was in grade school, our parish's deacon explained that when Jesus calls God "Abba," that actually translates not as "Father," but "Daddy".  There is something very beautiful and vulnerable about calling someone "Daddy" and I loved the sentiment.  But, for years, my relationship was so formal...so, Lord it was.  And there is nothing wrong with calling God by that title.  He is our Lord.  But, I have found a certain peace in calling Him Father.  I tried the name a few times and it felt awkward.  So, I prayed about it, and one day it just came out.

If you recall, Jesus tells us to call God "Father".  There is a whole prayer dedicated to it.  By using this name, you are allowing yourself into a deeper relationship.  When I talk to my Father, I feel as though I am a child asking for a favor or talking about my troubles or the good things that happened to me today.  I am allowing myself to be vulnerable in a way that I had not expected.  And most surprising, I have found that I have begun to trust more.  Just as a kid, when I expected my dad (who was totally a superhero) to take care of everything, and make everything better, I have come to trust God in the same way.  Of course, bad things happen, and I get scared, frustrated, and angry, but I know that everything is going to be okay.  Think of it this way: as a kid, you might slip and fall, and you scrape your knee.  Your dad didn't stop you from falling, but he will clean up your knee and hug you and make it feel all better.  God might not stop bad things from happening, but He will always be there to pick up the pieces and take care of you in the end.

Pray with me:

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.

Amen.

God bless you all!

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