We have a choice, give your heart, time, self
“We Have a Choice – Give your Heart – Give your Time – Give yourself” writes Lynn L’Heureux in her weekly Vincentian reflection. (9/3/2013)
Greetings, prayers and all good things I pray for my dear Vincentian Family. You truly are my strength. Pray today for our priests, deacons, bishops, and pope. Pray for all the spiritual advisors, and religious. We are so thankful, Lord to have those leaders in our lives. We are truly blessed to have all leaders in every part of our Vincentian family and we are so blessed to learn each day from our family. Bless each person reflecting today and all who receive this reflection. Pray always and take the time to be alone with Jesus.
We Have a Choice – There are always choices. We can whine when things go wrong. We can be bitter and angry when someone crosses us. Usually this makes us unhappy and quite frankly, not nice to be around. I always think the best thing is always to start over. Keep God in the configuration and begin again, with love and a joyful heart. You will feel much better. It is the best therapy ever. Lay everything at his feet and begin again. When you have joy in your heart, God is close at hand.
Give your Heart to others. Having a joyful heart is a gift to be opened and shared with all. When visiting in homes, hospitals or prisons, wear your heart on your sleeve. Give your heart to those in need and to those who are ill or lonely or abandoned by everyone. Find the courage to lay your heart before them. See Jesus in them and be Jesus to them. Share your love it is the best way to thank God for all you have received. Mother Teresa says, “The best way to show your gratitude to God and to people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the normal result of a heart burning with love.” God’s love never leaves; we must let it consume us so that we may give the love to others. We give our hearts to all we meet in our Vincentian work. Our hearts are open to all who call on us and we serve in His name. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton says, “Put your heart at His feet. It is the gift He loves most.” In Matthew 22:34-40 we are reminded to give our all, a whole hearted love rather than the half hearted kind, or the lip service. When we buy into the entire picture, we are doing the right thing; we are pleasing to God and to ourselves and those around us.
Give your Time. One of our most valuable possessions seems to be time. We never have enough of it. I have a sticker by my computer that says, “You will never have time, you must make it.” We must pray always to make time. We need to pray for the strength it takes to give that time to another who has great need of it. Never underestimate the value of your time to a person in need. Sometimes it seems trivial, but the person or persons God places before you is in need of your time; you give your undivided one on one time. Touch someone’s life today.
Give yourself. Now that you have made the choice to give your heart and your time, be sure to give your whole self. Share with those you serve a little of yourself. Be the Gospel and pass on the goodness you have learned. Lift someone up like a souring eagle. Help them find the peace and joy, you pray for. Give yourself on this journey. It is a God centered gift. Christ gave Himself in a far greater way. Give yourself in kindness, love and joy. It is the right thing to do. St. Augustine tells us that progress in holiness depends on God and me—on God’s grace and on my will. Each of us must have a true and living resolution to reach holiness. We need to give of ourselves to all God places on our path. We serve God and those He sends.
There are many teaching tools and videos and reflections and so much more on www.famvin.org/en . Don’t be afraid to investigate. Look to our Vincentian Saints to guide us to holiness. They and others have truly set examples we all can follow. Just let it happen. Feel the love of God and bring it to all you encounter.
Blessings,
Lynn
Lynn L’Heureux is Special needs co-coordinator & Advisor of the Society of St Vincent de Paul Calgary Alberta Canada
Subscribe to her weekly newsletter Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast (English and Spanish) by sending an email to calgaryssvpadm@gmail.com
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