A season for squabbles

by | Nov 28, 2024 | Life, Work and the World

“There has been a stream of grace that has been opened and is flowing in time and throughout history. … it is affecting people all over the planet…if we open our heart to Him.” (Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, Tidings of Great Joy)

 

 

Squabbling over the small stuff. Thinking my way is the best way. Arguing because Aunt Sally insists on bringing the yucky Jello dessert every year to Thanksgiving even though you tell her no one wants it, and there’s no room for it with all the other food to serve. (Knowing, of course, if she were bringing a dessert everyone loved that somehow room would be made to serve it).

Then many people begin to decorate for Christmas inside and out. For some reason,  what worked just fine last year, and every year before it, isn’t good enough this year and someone decides they need a change. And the arguing begins, lasting right up until Christmas itself.

This even carries over to the church as plans are laid for decor and liturgies. Sometimes ministries who are supposed to be in service to the Church begin to lord over it…

“…in the normal course of Providence, we shall be protected from vainglory by the cost in humiliation that witnessing to a Holy life inevitably brings.”

(Servant of God Fr. John Hardon SJ)

It is supposed to be a season of Thanksgiving that leads into the Season of Giving, giving of ourselves as God has given of Himself to us in Jesus. The advent, arrival, of Christ; a “coming into being” as defined by Webster. What better birthday present could we give to Jesus than to give up our need to have everything ‘our way’, or to be ‘right’? Remember how pleased God is when we give up something not because we have to, but because we want to?

And, of course, God permits the squabbles hoping we’ll learn something about ourselves and Him; if nothing else, that His patience is infinite! Perhaps each Advent could become a season of learning and growing. A simple examen for the ‘should-of’’ thoughts (he should have done this) or the “I” statements (I don’t see why we can’t do what I want) could bring a soul cleanse better than anything available online or on the shelf at the pharmacy. There are only two standards—God’s and Satan’s—and it’s easy to see who is really behind these moments. If love is missing, it isn’t of God, no matter how ‘right’ it seems.

Advent is a time to make room for God in the soul by cleaning ‘house’ first! Where to start?

‘Love above everything the glory of God. May God, infinitely good, be the aim of your words, your thoughts, and your actions.’

(St. Ignatius of Loyola)

In love for the Glory of God, happy Thanksgiving!

 

(Image by Norman Rockwell fair use from WikiArt)

Thank you for caring and sharing appropriately...

Consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Except where noted, all design, writing and images ©2024 by Debra Black and TheFaceofGraceProject.com. All Rights Reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including downloading, photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission or to report violations please email:   thefaceofgraceproject@gmail.com