Always hope, always

Dear God,
This is Kelley.

I'm not feeling very well this morning, Lord. I am going to miss Your Eucharist. O, how I long for You! I think I may have broken my arm, too, and I don't want to go get x-rays or have a cast. Things are not going well in the family. And sometimes sitting down and talking things out just isn't going to work. What to do, O Lord?

Don't expect ... from anyone. Just love.
Be gentle. Be firm. Do not point out hurts nor failings. Do not be sarcastic.
Let your love be unconditional, as it is supposed to be, as is My love.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (1Corinthians 13:4-8).

And I can tell You, Lord, that this is hard, maybe even impossible for me, but then I remember what Father Rich told us -- You make it possible. Coming to you and asking for the grace to do something that You have called us to do assures me -- guarantees me -- that You will give the grace. But it is not "zap!" I have it and now it's easy. It is grace like that given to Jacob in the form of the angel: I must wrestle with it, work with it, mold it and let it mold me, a time-consuming, somewhat painful, exercise.

O, Lord! I find hope when I come to You. I always find hope (and strength, and grace, and my sense of humor, and wisdom...).

Thank You, my King and Savior.