On this day, the first day of Spring, I remember God’s faithfulness. After a cold winter, signs of spring are bursting forth.
Spring reminds me that in a troubled world, God’s word is trustworthy. Amidst uncertainties in the future, whether it be politically, financially, physically, etc., God is faithful. When friends, acquaintances, family, strangers, etc., judge our motives and actions, reject us, or walk away, God is just.
Spring reminds me even with all of the evil, the problems, the difficulties, etc., a hope remains. And, while we cannot change some things in our lives, we can change ourselves, and how we react to the hard things and people in our lives.
Dysfunctions of all kinds and varieties may continue to live on – but they don’t have to live on through us.
There is a solution for hatred, injury, doubt, despair, darkness, and sadness. God is the answer- the solution- but we have a role to play, by being His instrument to this bruised and confused world.
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Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life
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(Note: This prayer is often incorrectly attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)
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