Something I have pondered for the past few weeks since I decided to get back on the blogging wagon: a weekly post to reflect on a Salesian quote I have come across in the course of my readings for my formation to become a Daughter of St Francis de Sales.
Instead of thinking too much more: I am just going to start.
"Attend diligently to your affairs, but know that you have no affairs of greater importance than those of your salvation, and the paving of the way to a true and solid devotion. Have patience with all but principally with yourself. I mean, do not make yourself unhappy about your imperfections, but always have the courage to rise above them. I am very glad that you make a fresh beginning every day. there is no better means for achieving the spiritual life than always to recommence, and never to suppose that you have done enough."
I found this in Courage in Chaos: Wisdom from Francis de Sales by Pauline Books and Media
I spent the better part of 2015 being upset with myself and my lack of getting things accomplished. Now, those accomplishments were primarily from my to-do list. That same to-do list which was very lengthy and mostly of my own making. For some reason, I think I should get more done that 5 women could accomplish. When I couldn't get everything done I would become paralyzed. Mostly by those thoughts that sound logical when not spoken aloud: "I am lazy"; "Why can't I do anything right?"' "Everyone would be better if I just left" "He deserves a wife that is better than I" and the most debilitating of all: "I can't do this anymore" But, like most things, when brought out of the dark and into the light, they made no sense at all.
I know each of those thoughts are not those that would be given to me by my loving God. They are not thoughts that were even based in reality. My reality is I am BUSY. I am the wife of a great man and mom of 6. I educate the youngest 4 at home. I do the paperwork for my husband's business. I bring my children to shooting practice and matches, 4-H meetings and events, karate classes, and Portuguese school, I am the Cub Scout leader for my younger son's den. I bring my mother-in-law to her doctor appointments. I cook dinners, shop for food, wash clothes, clean the house. And after all that regular stuff, I added much more to the list. And, I expected me to get it all done. Every. Day. Yep, not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to expectations.
For this coming week (I think I can handle one week of this!) I am going to try to live this quote. I will have patience with myself. I will acknowledge a mistake and move on from it - quickly. I will remember my to-do list should start, and end, with God.
I will have a good week!.
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