A Letter to Graduates

Dear Graduate,

    
Congratulations!  You did it!  Who knew that you’d one day make it so far, overcome so many obstacles, embrace so many new opportunities, and develop such wonderful friendships?  God did.  He’s known all along the passions in your heart and how you would and will continue to inspire others.   

   
My wish, hope, and prayers for you are that throughout your life you will grow in your awareness of God’s unconditional love, endless mercy, and unbounded joy so that you can continue being a source of living hope to all who come into contact with you.

   
There are some important lessons to remember as you move to the next step in your journey.  People and relationships are far more important than money, worldly success, awards, or prestige.  You are God’s Beloved Child.  I can almost hear some of you asking: "Who me?!"  To which I'd respond with a resounding, "Yes, you!"  

 
God has, does, and will always love you more than anyone else has, does, or can—even your parents, grandparents, family members, closest friends, or your spouse.  Almighty God is the only who one can and will always be with you, and, despite occasional thoughts and feelings to the contrary, He will never abandon or forsake you. 

   
I found it to be so easy to get caught up in my own hopes and dreams or to make my decisions and assess my worth based on the evaluations I receive from others.  Above all, though, we are to seek the Will of the Lord in all areas of our lives and accept the abundance of blessings He provides for us to live that out.  It is the only plan which is best for everyone involved in time and eternity.  We are encouraged and created to move, grow, and have our being in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Any good gifts we have come from Him. Any good we can do for others flows from Him through us.  Only in uniting yourself with the Source of All Love and life will you be a most effective vessel and conduit of love, compassion, generosity, and kindness. 

   
May you keep prayer a source of hope and healing in mind and heart as you seek and guide others in search of goodness, beauty, and Truth. 

     
It can be a little nerve-racking at times to move from one stage of life to the next, especially when it means saying goodbye to loved ones, a particular way of life, a gathering place for friends, but you’re well-equipped to go out into the world and continue making a difference doing what comes naturally to you. 

   
Be gentle with yourself during times of transition. 

   
Who you are is your gift to others and God’s gift to the world. Embrace that truth and live your life to the fullest.  God danced the day you were born and has been elated by you ever since.  Remember that you are loved and lovable because of who you are and whose you are—not because of what you do.  Your value has already been established as a child of God.  No other accolades, honors, or awards are needed to establish your worth.  It just is.

   
The greatest gifts bestowed upon us are those most precious in time and eternity: a love for family and friends, a true compassion for others, a concern for those less fortunate, an active prayer life, ongoing study and faith formation, being part of Christian community, performing actions that provide for the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs of others, and a yearning to do God’s will that are fueled by a desire to spend all of eternity with the angels, saints, and the loved ones who have gone before us to Heaven knowing that Christ's life, death, and resurrection have bought us eternal salvation.

   
“All things work for good for those who love God…”  The best in your life is yet to come.  Trust me—the wildest adventures, the most longed for opportunities, the most ecstatic joys, the most unusual challenges, the deepest love, the most profound mercy, and the best blessings beyond all of your hopes and dreams are yet to come for you!  

    

God bless and love from your sister in Christ, Trisha

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 69)

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Religious Freedom at Risk:

ActsFive29.com

We Must Obey God Rather Than Men!

The future of religious freedom in America is at risk!

Join us for 72 hours of prayer and arrests at The White House

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We’re on a roll! It’s quite amusing to watch the twins for whom I nanny interact on the blanket on the floor.  Even if they’re on opposite ends of the blanket, they always gravitate towards each other, flailing their little hands and feet in the process.  Their antics are quite hilarious.  (No one was mortally or morally wounded in the shooting of these photos.) 

 

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Cute as Can Be Big Sis One melt-your-heart precious moments this week, Vivi saw Livi sleeping on the floor uncovered, so she went over and put a blanket over her legs.  I responded with the appropriate “Awww, that was so sweet!” in hopes to encourage this sort of compassion and sisterly concern. 

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Play It Again, Sam  Thankfully, the girls’ parents and I are on the same wavelength when it comes to what I call “noisy toys.”  Some of them are actually nice to listen to (for less than an hour at a time), and others are pretty much grating after the second verse or stanza of the song.  When I told Jess that I’d put Vivi’s keyboard up when she wouldn’t stop standing on it and I’d told her it would break.  Jess said Carl would just as soon it did break.  Jess reminded me that I’m free to hide any toys I can’t stand hearing ad infinitum or remove the batteries.  I have reserved this right for quite some time as I discovered years ago that there are some toys that are sufficiently unsettling enough to jeopardize an adult’s sanity when two young children have access to them for 8+ hours at a time.  In case you might have missed it, books have always been my favorite go-to for me and for the children in my life.

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No Arms, No Legs, No Worries?  I'm currently reading inspirational speaker Nick Vujicic’s first book Life Without Limits. I’m absolutely amazed by his attitude of gratitude, faith, compassion, love, joy, and spirit. The first book of his which I'm still reading and his many Youtube videos have deeply touched my heart and soul.  I’m really looking forward to reading his second book which is coming out in late October!
  

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The Butterfly Circus I’and really loved this short film he was in along with the lead actor Eduardo Verastegui, whom you might recognize from the remarkable movie Bella.

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The Lord of all Dance I pray that You will draw my loved one who had a successful foot surgery (they fixed the problem and discovered it wasn’t a tumor like they originally thought) ever nearer to You in all areas of life.  Please give Your beloved child the wisdom to listen to You, the Divine Physician as well as her medical doctor so that her healing will happen quickly and without complications.     

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Joy

What brings you life, fuels your passion, gives you energy?  What special talents or gifts have you been given that make the world a more beautiful, loving hopeful place in which to live?  Internationally-known author, lecturer, and Benedictine sister, Joan Chittister encourages readers to consider these questions to lead us to happiness.  “When we finally take that first step toward being honest about what we ourselves really believe, really want to do, really enjoy most, are really most committed to doing for others—and do it—we become a person who is a gift to the rest of the human race” (pg. 99).  

Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Joy invites us to look at our God-given talents, our innate passions, and how using our gifts in order to help others.  She explains how taking action using our talents to do something purposeful that helps others is what will lead us to having a genuinely satisfying life. 

     

Another important message conveyed is that it’s never too late.  Some people feel that they can’t possibly go in a completely new direction when it comes to their education, career, ministry, hobbies…, but Joan illustrates that simply isn’t true.  Discovering our purpose and how we can use who we are and what we have to help others is a life-long process.  We grow, learn more about ourselves, and how our strengths can be used to make life better for others.   

     

Following your call rather than falling back on what you know and can do that will most likely lead to a life that’s successful in the world’s eyes certainly goes against the grain.  It may very well baffle your family and friends, but it can bring more energy to your own life and inspire those you serve in ways only God could bring about. 

     

At times there are so many hypothetical situations and scenarios considered, I felt that the potency of the main message became watered down in a sense.  It may very well be that other readers find it helpful to have such a variety of examples of what a call is and how it can be lived out. 

     

Following the Path serves as a good overview of what a call is, how to live it out, and why that purposeful activity leads to true happiness and fulfillment regardless of what stage of life and/or type of discernment you are in at present. 

     

To read more about, Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Joy, click here.  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  Love books and have a blog? Join their Blogging for Books program.