Ordinary Blessings

(Prayer offered over the Public Address system for the entire La Salle Academy educational community on Monday morning, 6 October 2014)

Let us remember that we are in the Holy Presence of a loving God.

What were you doing Saturday night?  I was watching my son John play in a Cumberland recreation flag football game and I was miserable.  For 2 hours, I stood behind a fence with other Cumberland parents as we watched our kids play in the pouring, and I mean pouring, rain.

rain

I was getting over a bad cold and I was so miserable that, at one point, my husband who is also the assistant coach whispered through a forced mad smile, “Just go home.”  As often is the case, it was my 8 year Madeleine who forced me to see the grace of the moment.  She had found some friends to play with and was puddle jumping and loving every minute of it.  She came over to me, saw my scowl, and told me and I quote, “Get over it.  Look around.  Practically the whole town is here.  Just enjoy it.”   WOW.  Nothing like being put in my place by an eight year old in galoshes and a Princess Elsa raincoat.

raincoat

Yesterday at Mass, we heard St. Paul remind the Philippians to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, pure. lovely, gracious, and excellent and, if they did, surely the God of peace would be with them.  We are promised the same. As Coach Marcone reminded us last week, the blessings and love of others are all around us.  But because they are always there, we miss them.  Or in my case, we scowl and complain all the way through them.   So for today, try looking for something true, pure, and lovely about the people in your world.  Stop long enough to appreciate graciousness.  God promises us it is not very far away.

gods-promise

Let us pray:

God of sun and rain.  You send us many seasons in our lives. Pour your Spirit upon us so that we may see through new eyes and really take in your presence in the incredible and ordinary blessings of our day.  And as we look for that which is pure, honorable, and lovely,  may we be filled with your peace, knowing we are exactly where you intend for us to be.

St. John Baptist de La Salle: Pray for Us!

Live Jesus in our Hearts: Forever!

Christine Estes (Religious Studies Department Chairperson)