So says St. Therese.
But it can be so hard to really believe.
I know God loves me, but does He like me? Does He....like-like me?
As I am reading St. Therese's memories of her early childhood, it becomes apparent to me, as she herself says, "God was pleased all through (her) life to surround (her) with love." Her whole early childhood seems bathed in a rosy glow of financial stability, spiritual giftedness, and the benefit of being the youngest girl of a family given to express affection.
Part of me wonders at all that! Why did she receive so much? It seems like it would not be incredibly hard to be good when your life is so full of wholesome love. There is that part of me - that shy-girl part - that cries - "unfair"!
God makes clear He loves and like-likes His little Therese.
Not everyone gets that kind of start to life. Why?
Even St. Therese ponders this - "I wondered for a long time why God has preferences, why all souls don't receive an equal amount of graces."
Therese goes on to make the beautiful analogy of the flowers - how God answered her queries with a nature lesson. There are many, many types of flowers in the world, from the beautiful rose to the humble, small wildflower in a field. The fragrance of the lily and the fact it will adorn altars all over during Easter take away nothing from the beauty of the wildflowers growing hidden in a field. If all flowers were roses or lilies, nature would be less than it was meant to be.
Have you ever stumbled upon a patch of flowers, hidden behind some bushes, or tucked away out of plain sight? The suddenness of seeing color where none was expected can take your breath away. Even if they turn out to be just flowering weeds - they shine forth in their beauty. But what if no one ever sees them? Does that lessen their beauty? (Kind of like "If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?")
All flowers, even the most humble, hidden wildflower, add to what "nature" is meant to be.Every flower is meant to bloom and grow, as each one is, according to its nature.
So, too, all souls are meant to glorify God, according to whatever life He gives them to live. Some will have the privilege of good upbringing, good teaching, and tractable spirits, and can follow the path of faith much more easily than others, who are brought into a harsh world, and are given little to go on.
I can understand this, at least to a degree. I was given a deep love of Scripture from an early age. I devoured The Picture Bible - the cool one by Iva Hoth, not the boring black-and-white Catholic Picture Bible.
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| Awesomeness, Scripture-style! |
As a child, I loved my "Bible Trivia" game, but could never find anyone to play with me. I was fascinated by my saint books. I hungered for more, spiritually. I have been blessed through my lifetime to have had instructions in faith by amazing people - from Mr. Williams, who was my Confirmation instructor, to the many examples of faith of the men and women in the Catholic community I was raised in (although there were many faults in this community, and many hurts, as well), to my college instruction from Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. Regis Martin, Rita Marker, and Dr. John Croby, to my post-graduate studies with Fr. Francis Martin, Msg. Albacete, and Dr. William May (just to name a few)..
I mean - after all I have been given, spiritually speaking, I have no excuse to be spiritually lazy. I was given an abundance of gifts, and it becomes my duty to figure out how to pass on all I have received.
One of the ways Mother Teresa always impressed me was, she never seemed fazed by anyone - world dignitary, prostitute, volunteer, pop star, pope, or child - she approached each person with such simplicity. They were who they were, and were respected as such. Each person was able to come to God, as they were.
I leave you with this thought from Mother Teresa, from Love: A Fruit Always in Season.
'Often you see small and big wires, new and old, cheap and expensive electric cables up - they alone are useless and until the current passes through them there will be no light. The wire is you and me. The current is God. We have the power to let the current pass through us and use us to produce the light of the world or we can refuse to be used and allow the darkness to spread. My prayer is with each of you and I pray that each one of you will be holy, and so spread God's love, everywhere you go."
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