A time for preparation...

My best friend told me recently: "You know, I'm a little sad that you are not the Catholic that you once were. I mean you are still a really good Catholic, but you used to teach CCD, run a youth group..."

For more than 12 years, my husband and I were those "crazy Catholic" twenty-somethings who would inspire youth to get fired up about their faith. To be Soldiers of Christ and fight the good fight. When our parish needed something done, the priest would look to us to get things moving. Parents made us examples to their children; we were the last resort to bring their kids back into the fold. Before those years, I participated in the youth group, retreats - you name it. Heck, I was always at the church. I was one of "those" church kids. My family sat in the same pew every Sunday and everyone knew who we were.

My pal's statement alone made me ponder. What am I doing now? I go to church every Sunday. I make sure my son is learning the foundations of our faith. Each night we saw prayers together. Yet, could I be doing more? Focusing just on myself, I remembered how my morals were what set me apart from the crowd. I stood up for my faith even when it made me the outcast. The fact that I "waited until marriage" is still a topic that causes to shock people. To sum it up, my faith made me special. In the past, my BFF would constantly state "I'm going to heaven on your coat-tails." Would they still be able to?

With Lent a week away, I've set forth a challenge to myself. To do my best to become that pillar of faith I once was. Nothing radical. Just a small start to go back to the person I once was.

Lifetime

A few weeks ago, I prayed for a friend, someone whom I was very close to. I no longer hear from this person (and there were many attempts on my part), but I offered our friendship up to God and let Him guide me on what to do next. Today, I received this email from a random friend...

"People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person..
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime."

God has His ways....